The Nancy Drew Scrapbook: Sixty Years of America's Favorite Teenage Sleuth

This is not a story, it's an informational book about Nancy Drew. Everythin in it is factual and it even shares a few mysteries of the life of Nancy Drew. I recomend this book to any mystery fan, ND fan, or the curious reader.

This was the best and most well-researched book I've ever read about Nancy Drew. Not only does Ms. Plunkett-Powell "introduce" us to the REAL Carolyn Keene -- Mildred Wirt Benson -- but she gives us a history of how the idea for Nancy Drew was born and some of the politics involved in it for Wirt when Stratmeyer died and his daughter, Harriet, took over everything and tried to control too much of the writing. We learn which NDs weren't written by Wirt, and how much of the writing was changed as well as the covers.She tells collectors how to know the worth of their stash. She goes through each of the characters and their start with the series. She even talks about the TV show and MOVIES in the 1930s that were made -- more for the fun of it than to truly showcase the books. Info about Russell Tandy, the illustrator of the early books and the first to design covers, also is described.She hasn't forgotten anything. It's truly a work of genius for the Nancy Drew collector, a "must have" for all of us!

...and other fascinating background trivia for the queen-of-teen-sleuth buffs! I'm not a true Nancy Drew fan, I'm a bookseller with a mercenary interest in the vintage teenage sleuth, but this book almost made me a believer! The author approaches her subject matter with the infectious enthusiasm of the true fan, and delves into carefully guarded mysteries of secret ghostwriter identities, Riverview's true location, and other gems of trivia too numerous to cite, with a determination and verve Nancy herself would be proud of! Fun to read, captivating, and informative to the collector and bookseller alike! (and by the way, the writing is adult-level, not 4-8 yrs., as the description implies!)

As a young girl I couldn't wait for the chance to read a new Nancy Drew book. I would wait between new releases by rereading my old editions. The Nancy Drew Scrapbook is great. This book brings back a flood of childhood memories, and it also told me how valuable my old editions are today.

Collectors and non-collectors alike should enjoy this retrospective on Nancy Drew, the world famous girl sleuth. The author covers many of the fascinating highlights in Nancy long career in books, movies and TV. There are many photos of Nancy books, collectibles and other items. Collectors should enjoy reading all about their favorite detective and non-collectors will find this a nostalgic and enjoyable trip down memory lane.