The Haunted Attic - Judy Bolton #2

My best friend and I grew up reading and sharing Judy Bolton books, Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames (nurse), etc. Margaret Sutton's Judy Bolton books were our favorites. We took turns purchasing the books with our allowance monies. We saved all the books and after we were married and had children (my friend had 2 boys and I had three girls), it was decided that I should have all the old books for my daughters. I had wanted to be a writer and an artist as long as I could remember, and Margaret Sutton was my heroine and role model. Years later, I was a well-known artist, freelance writer, poet and photographer and was invited to a cocktail party at the home of a writer for a group of professional writers in the community. We lived in Freeport, NY, a boating & fishing village of about 52,000. To my amazement, the writer whose home I visited was THE Margaret Sutton of my childhood, and Margaret and I became friends. She was still vibrant, feisty and funny. I was honored to be her friend. What a terrific writer. She was ahead of her time and was a great role model for young women. It was an honor to know her.

As a girl, my mother bought Judy Bolton books each week with her allowance. Luckily, she saved them to share with her little girl (me)twenty four year later. Judy, as others have said, is so much better than Nancy Drew. She's a realistic heroine and a great role model. She's also a great feminist who doesn't let the guys in the novels get the glory. Not only that, but she still seemed cool in the eighties. As an adult, I have been searching for more of these books to complete the collection. Thankfully, they've begun to reprint these timeless stories. I can't wait to share them with my little girl.

This is the second book in the Judy Bolton series, all of which were based on real-life incidents. It is well-written (far better than the Stratemeyer Syndicate's Nancy Drew), and the heroine is a likeable, down-to-earth young girl whose adventures brightened my childhood. I still enjoy reading them today!

Judy is introduced in the first book, The Vanishing Shadow. This is one of the best of the 38 book series and as with all Judy Bolton's teaches about loyalty, honesty, friendship. I would like to correct a previous review. Judy does indeed grow older, and marry, however she does not have a child. This was planned, however the series was not allowed to proceed to that point

I was introduced to both Judy and Nancy around 1948. I have always preferred Judy. I re-read several of both series lately, and am still of the same opinion. Nancy is an elitist, but likeable. Judy is a real person with good lessons about trust, honesty, making mistakes and correcting them. She embraces all types of people and encourages young people to not be afraid of differences.