Looking forward to reading our Dec title, Girl Sleuth. Not only will I be learning about the women who wrote the Nancy Drew books but more important... I will finally read a Nancy Drew mystery. Yes, I am one of those weird American girls who did not read them when growing up. I read the Freddy the Pig series, "Johnny Tremain" and Howard Pease's Tod Moran Mysteries. I generally liked "boy books" rather than "girl books".
So is Nancy Drew more "boy book" or "girl book"? A great discussion question.
The introduction to our book describes Nancy Drew "as much a part of the idea of American girlhood as slumber parties, homework and bubble gum". I'm actually sorry I didn't read her sooner. Melanie Rehak points out "the stories themselves are secondary. What we remember is Nancy: her bravery, her generosity, and her relentless desire to succeed linger long after the last page has been turned...". A great role model, "grace under pressure". I think having a blue convertible all to herself was a big part of the appeal, also.
I'm going to procure a few Nancy Drew Mysteries, old and new editions, to read and compare. But first I'll tackle Girl Sleuth to learn the stories of the women behind Nancy Drew. They are Mildred Wirt Benson, an Iowa newspaper reporter and Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, the heiress to the Stratemeyer children's book company.
This should be fun!
