When I’m asked about the first mystery book I read, my answer is Nancy Drew. Like many little girls, I fell in love with mysteries by reading about this teenage sleuth. And before we talk about Nancy Drew, let me share a quick story.
I remember that, for Christmas one year when I was about ten, I received three Nancy Drew Books as a present—not one, not two, but three. I was thrilled with my gift until I returned to school after the holidays. One of my classmates announced she had received 100 Nancy Drew books as a present—Wow!
This one incident taught me several life lessons. It’s the only time I can remember experiencing jealousy over a gift someone else received.
Second, there was a lesson about boasting, or perhaps I should say exaggeration. My Mom (who was very wise and a librarian) told me there were only about 35 Nancy Drew books published at the time. Unless this person received three copies of each book, there is no way she would have acquired that many.
Lastly, I learned about the popularity of the Nancy Drew books. I soon discovered that many of my friends had also received Nancy Drew books for the holidays, and we had our own lending library, sharing books.
With 175 books, published under the original Nancy Drew classic yellow-spine Series (1935-2003) and subsequent additions, it ranks among the largest series ever produced. Only the Hardy Boys series is larger.
Nancy Drew as a Role Model
The Nancy Drew series boosted the status of women, especially young girls. Nancy is adept at all she does. This includes everything from sports activities to wearing the right outfits to handling her sporty convertible and keeping up with the boys. She’s a skilled investigator at solving mysteries. There is nothing she can’t do.
You might assume that being good at everything would make her conceited, but instead, she is warm, caring, friendly, and outgoing. For adults reading her books, her skills may seem unbelievable, but for young girls, she is a role model. Nancy is an innovative, independent thinker, and perhaps most importantly, she has adventures. She shows girls they can accomplish anything when they put their minds to it.
Nancy Drew is a Unique Series
The Nancy Drew mysteries are unique because, for over ninety years, the books have been written by different authors under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. The first Nancy Drew book was The Secret of the Old Clock in 1930, and the last book in the original series, #175, was Werewolf in a Winter Wonderland in 2003.
The series was started by Edward Stratemeyer as a counterpart to his Hardy Boys series and was published for years under the Stratemeyer Syndicate until it was sold to Simon and Schuster in 1979. After Stratemeyer’s death, his daughters took over the syndicate and edited both the original 34 books and continued writing outlines for new ones. Mildred Wirt wrote the first Nancy Drew book at age 24 and continued writing through Volume 30.
What Do We Know About Nancy Drew
Nancy lost her mother as a young child and lives with her father and housekeeper Hannah Gruen. Her father is a lawyer and practices in River Heights. Many of her mysteries involve helping one of her father’s clients, while others include people she meets who need help. She never accepts payment for her work.
Nancy doesn’t solve her cases alone. She relies on her best friends, Bess Marvin and George Fayne, and boyfriend, Ned Nickerson. When she goes off in her blue roadster, we all feel a sense of freedom that she will accomplish what she sets out to do. And there isn’t a case she can’t solve.
Nancy Drew Books have evolved over the Years.
Nancy Drew Books are still being published today, though they have been modernized. In the original books, Nancy was a high school graduate, but in 1995, Nancy attended college for the first time. A hybrid car replaced her blue roadster. Ned and Nancy’s relationship is often on-again, off-again. But Nancy Drew has remained true to her principles, and there is always a mystery for Nancy to solve.
Nancy’s Influence is Not Forgotten
When I talk with my mystery-loving women friends, many credit Nancy Drew for influencing them and sparking their love of the genre. Many still have Nancy Drew books in their libraries or have passed them on to their daughters and granddaughters. When pressed, they will occasionally admit to still reading a Nancy Drew book. Nancy Drew remains a role model for girls and a good read for mysteries.
Note: Check Puzzles for a Nancy Drew Word Search
