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Nancy Clancy Chapter Books #1
Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth
Kids who grew up with Jane O’Connor’s Fancy Nancy picture books can spend some quality time with their BFF: Nancy Clancy is now starring in her own chapter books!
Fancy Nancy: Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth is the first in a series of delightful middle-grade mysteries. Sassy Fancy Nancy is now a detective. When one of her classmate’s most special possessions disappears from school, it’s up to Nancy to save the day. With the help of her friend Bree, she follows the clues to an unexpected source.
Fans of Nancy Drew’s Clue Crew will be happy to see a new Nancy join the ranks of super sleuths.
Robin Preiss Glasser illustrates Nancy’s story with liveliness, wit, and fanciness.
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 3, 2012
291 people are currently reading
1837 people want to read
About the author
Jane O'Connor
279 books354 followersSince the publication of Fancy Nancy, Jane O'Connor's closet now boasts so many boas, tiaras, and sparkly ensembles that sometimes friends do not recognize her on the street. She still resides (that's a fancy word for lives) in New York City with her family and their canine companion, Arrow. --from the publisher's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews
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March 6, 2021[Book #34 for my grad school Children's Lit class]
March 29, 2019
We have read so many Fancy Nancy books that our girls have become quite familiar with the characters and they feel like old friends to us. So I was quite pleased to see this chapter book featuring slightly older versions of the characters.
Just when our girls were starting to outgrow the series, Nancy and Bree grew along with them. Hooray! (I must admit, however, that I do hope that Pinkalicious remains in her little kid niche - I really don't want to revisit with her again!)
Slightly off-topic rant aside, we really enjoyed this story. Our girls loved the two mysteries and they felt so smart because they figured them out before Nancy did. Also, they loved deciphering the code messages sent between Nancy and Bree.
I loved the literary references and we simply must start reading the original Nancy Drew books soon. We are still in the middle of the Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew series, but I think our girls will enjoy the originals more.
Overall, this is an engaging and well-written story. The sparse black and white illustrations complement the tale nicely. We are really looking forward to more chapter books featuring Nancy and Bree.
Just when our girls were starting to outgrow the series, Nancy and Bree grew along with them. Hooray! (I must admit, however, that I do hope that Pinkalicious remains in her little kid niche - I really don't want to revisit with her again!)
Slightly off-topic rant aside, we really enjoyed this story. Our girls loved the two mysteries and they felt so smart because they figured them out before Nancy did. Also, they loved deciphering the code messages sent between Nancy and Bree.
I loved the literary references and we simply must start reading the original Nancy Drew books soon. We are still in the middle of the Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew series, but I think our girls will enjoy the originals more.
Overall, this is an engaging and well-written story. The sparse black and white illustrations complement the tale nicely. We are really looking forward to more chapter books featuring Nancy and Bree.
August 28, 2022
My little girl thought this book was so fun! She loves getting to listen to stories and these were short chapters that kept her attention the whole time. We can’t wait to read more of these books.
April 4, 2019
Love the girly cover and Nancy's pink trench coat. Still, she and Bree are all business when it comes to solving the mysteries they encounter. They even have their own secret code. The Nancy Drew references are spot on and link generations of mystery readers together. O'Connor gives the reader a hint or two to help them solve the mystery along with Nancy Clancy. A strong series for chapter book readers!
June 26, 2012
Fancy Nancy of picture book-fame makes her transition into, well, transitional chapter books in this mystery-lite read. For whatever reason, Nancy (notice she's dropped the "Fancy" at the beginning of her name) has become an amateur detective. Is this an organic progression character-wise? I have no idea as I'm not too familiar with her earlier adventures. At least she's held onto her fanciness in her wardrobe and vocabulary, investigating two mysteries, one involving a missing marble, the other about her neighbor twins keeping a secret from Nancy.
This is a fine read, although I feel you could have replaced Nancy with any other plucky little girl and gotten the same result. Nancy's fanciness does nothing to aid her in her detection. So what's the point in having this particular character snoop around her school and neighborhood? Did she have an inherent, nosy quality or display some junior powers of deduction in the picture books? The jaded reader I am suspects this was merely a way to keep the Fancy Nancy brand going into the older reader market for those who have outgrown her picture book pursuits. You could surely do worse, and there's some nice moments about friendship and forgiveness and family. The kids won't notice or care about this profit-driven project, and, instead, will probably be grateful they have one of their favorite characters around a little bit longer.
This is a fine read, although I feel you could have replaced Nancy with any other plucky little girl and gotten the same result. Nancy's fanciness does nothing to aid her in her detection. So what's the point in having this particular character snoop around her school and neighborhood? Did she have an inherent, nosy quality or display some junior powers of deduction in the picture books? The jaded reader I am suspects this was merely a way to keep the Fancy Nancy brand going into the older reader market for those who have outgrown her picture book pursuits. You could surely do worse, and there's some nice moments about friendship and forgiveness and family. The kids won't notice or care about this profit-driven project, and, instead, will probably be grateful they have one of their favorite characters around a little bit longer.
April 27, 2012
From the back of the book:
Nancy Clancy has everything she needs to be a super sleuth (that's a fancy word for detective): She has a glamorous magnifying glass complete with rhinestones, a totally professional pink trench coat, and a sleuthing partner with awesome code-breaking skills -- her best friend, Bree.
Now all she needs is a good mystery to solve. But when crime strikes right in the middle of her classroom, will Nancy have what it takes to crack the case?
Fancy Nancy is back! Only this time she's the star of a chapter book! For ages 7-10 this is great step up for young readers who love Fancy Nancy but are looking for more challenging reads.
What I liked about the book: It's Fancy Nancy. I LOVE Fancy Nancy. It's a mystery. I love mysteries. It' a great pre-cursor to introducing younger readers to the classic Nancy Drew mysteries. Just like in the popular Fancy Nancy picture books, Nancy continues to introduce readers to new vocabulary words. This is not only a fun but an educational read as well. Readers will have a chance at breaking a secret code and using their own detective skills to see if they can solve the mystery of the missing blue marble.
What I didn't like about the book: I liked it all. However, if you are a fan of Robin Preiss Glasser's beautiful illustrations, you should be warned that the illustrations take a back seat in this book. As a chapter book, the focus is more on the story, while in the picture books the story and the illustrations work together to create a wonderful book.
Recommended for 1st - 3rd Grade (or anyone who enjoys mysteries/kids books and would like a quick read.)
AR Level: Not an Accelerated Reader Book as of April 27, 2012
Mrs. Archer's rating: 5 of 5! I will be ordering it for our school library.
Nancy Clancy has everything she needs to be a super sleuth (that's a fancy word for detective): She has a glamorous magnifying glass complete with rhinestones, a totally professional pink trench coat, and a sleuthing partner with awesome code-breaking skills -- her best friend, Bree.
Now all she needs is a good mystery to solve. But when crime strikes right in the middle of her classroom, will Nancy have what it takes to crack the case?
Fancy Nancy is back! Only this time she's the star of a chapter book! For ages 7-10 this is great step up for young readers who love Fancy Nancy but are looking for more challenging reads.
What I liked about the book: It's Fancy Nancy. I LOVE Fancy Nancy. It's a mystery. I love mysteries. It' a great pre-cursor to introducing younger readers to the classic Nancy Drew mysteries. Just like in the popular Fancy Nancy picture books, Nancy continues to introduce readers to new vocabulary words. This is not only a fun but an educational read as well. Readers will have a chance at breaking a secret code and using their own detective skills to see if they can solve the mystery of the missing blue marble.
What I didn't like about the book: I liked it all. However, if you are a fan of Robin Preiss Glasser's beautiful illustrations, you should be warned that the illustrations take a back seat in this book. As a chapter book, the focus is more on the story, while in the picture books the story and the illustrations work together to create a wonderful book.
Recommended for 1st - 3rd Grade (or anyone who enjoys mysteries/kids books and would like a quick read.)
AR Level: Not an Accelerated Reader Book as of April 27, 2012
Mrs. Archer's rating: 5 of 5! I will be ordering it for our school library.
April 25, 2019
Since I've been enjoying the Fancy Nancy picture books, I thought I'd give one of the chapter books a try. This is my first foray into the Nancy Clancy series, and I have to say, I'm not that impressed. They may be aimed at a slightly older audience than the picture books, but I actually found this book more difficult to enjoy than the books featuring six-year-old Nancy.
The illustrations, while still done by Robin Preiss Glasser, are all in black and white, so some of the magic is lost there. I also don't like the fact that these chapter books are written in a third-person point of view, unlike the picture books (which are in the first person); it distances the reader from the main character a little too much. Also, I found the "mystery" way too simple, and the culprit was way too obvious. I've often been surprised by the events in the Fancy Nancy picture books, because they're often not what one would expect. In this book, however, things are foreshadowed or hinted at too much, and it leaves little room for the reader to come up with imaginative alternate scenarios.
Part of the charm of Nancy is her over-the-top fanciness. That always played a role in the picture books. Here, though, that isn't the focus. Aside from the established background of these characters, there's really nothing to make them stand out. They might as well be original characters (and kind of boring ones, at that).
I've sated my curiosity for now. I doubt I'll be reading any more of these chapter books. While they might be okay for young readers, I wonder if the plots will even be too young for kids who are reading chapter books by themselves.
The illustrations, while still done by Robin Preiss Glasser, are all in black and white, so some of the magic is lost there. I also don't like the fact that these chapter books are written in a third-person point of view, unlike the picture books (which are in the first person); it distances the reader from the main character a little too much. Also, I found the "mystery" way too simple, and the culprit was way too obvious. I've often been surprised by the events in the Fancy Nancy picture books, because they're often not what one would expect. In this book, however, things are foreshadowed or hinted at too much, and it leaves little room for the reader to come up with imaginative alternate scenarios.
Part of the charm of Nancy is her over-the-top fanciness. That always played a role in the picture books. Here, though, that isn't the focus. Aside from the established background of these characters, there's really nothing to make them stand out. They might as well be original characters (and kind of boring ones, at that).
I've sated my curiosity for now. I doubt I'll be reading any more of these chapter books. While they might be okay for young readers, I wonder if the plots will even be too young for kids who are reading chapter books by themselves.
March 16, 2013
What a sweet book! I wish that this had been around when I was the target age. Despite the easy reading level, the prose was rich and engaging, and the occasional black and white illustrations were cute and detailed. The content of the story and character interactions were realistic, and I appreciated the sweet portrayal of family. With so many books trying to reflect reality with fractured, broken families, it was a nice change to have a loving, two parent household presented as a healthy norm.
In the actual plot of the story, a beautiful turquoise marble went missing from an exhibit at school. Influenced by Nancy Drew novels, Nancy Clancy and her friend Bree were determined to crack the case. There were a lot of cute references to that series, and the girls' excitement over the mystery reminded me of how I would have been when I was their age. Overall, the story was realistic and believable, and I would highly recommend this book to young girls.
In the actual plot of the story, a beautiful turquoise marble went missing from an exhibit at school. Influenced by Nancy Drew novels, Nancy Clancy and her friend Bree were determined to crack the case. There were a lot of cute references to that series, and the girls' excitement over the mystery reminded me of how I would have been when I was their age. Overall, the story was realistic and believable, and I would highly recommend this book to young girls.
May 18, 2012
Nancy idolizes Nancy Drew and wants to solve cases just like her favorite heroine, but what do you do when there's no mysteries to solve? Nancy and Bree soon have not 1 but 2 mysteries to solve: the case of the twins and the case of the missing blue marble. Nancy's first chapter book is full of fancy words and secret messages to decode. Illustrations and short chapters make this a title with appeal for newly independent readers. I missed the color from the illustrations in the Fancy Nancy picture books, but this is still a great book! Recommended for girls grades 2-4.
April 17, 2024
Ah, I loved Fancy Nancy as a kid, and as I was cleaning our game cabinet, I found this book! So, just because, I took a break from my task to sit down and read it.
I’m a little too old for it, but it was cool seeing some of my childhood favorite characters again. Teens and adults would find the mystery lame and very predictable (I guessed it quickly), but it’s a perfect mystery to crack for kids!
One thing that’s fun about Fancy Nancy is the use of “Fancy” words. That’s a great way to get kids to learn new words. So if you have little girls that are just getting into reading, Fancy Nancy is perfect, and this Nancy Clancy series is perfect for girls just getting into chapters.
I’m a little too old for it, but it was cool seeing some of my childhood favorite characters again. Teens and adults would find the mystery lame and very predictable (I guessed it quickly), but it’s a perfect mystery to crack for kids!
One thing that’s fun about Fancy Nancy is the use of “Fancy” words. That’s a great way to get kids to learn new words. So if you have little girls that are just getting into reading, Fancy Nancy is perfect, and this Nancy Clancy series is perfect for girls just getting into chapters.
March 28, 2012
Fancy Nancy who has been so popular with little girls, is growing up and now appears in her first chapter book for ages (7-10).
Fancy Nancy Super Sleuth, features Nancy and her best friend Bree. Both girls love Nancy Drew books, and have learned a thing of two from them. When her teachers favorite blue marble disappears Nancy, dressed in a pink trench coat and sunglasses is on the case. She and Bree turn the tree house into a detective agency, and are determined to solve the mystery of of missing blue marble.
As with the previously Fancy Nancy books, there are plenty of new words and definitions to be found in this book. It's not just a fun mystery, but it is educational as well.
While I can appreciate the intent to have a continued appeal to girls who are a bit older than the target age of the original Fancy Nancy series, I felt this one was still awfully fun, but just seemed a tad less "fancy", than the earlier books geared toward younger girls. (4.5/5 stars)
Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser are the author and illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestselling Fancy Nancy series.
Fancy Nancy Super Sleuth, features Nancy and her best friend Bree. Both girls love Nancy Drew books, and have learned a thing of two from them. When her teachers favorite blue marble disappears Nancy, dressed in a pink trench coat and sunglasses is on the case. She and Bree turn the tree house into a detective agency, and are determined to solve the mystery of of missing blue marble.
As with the previously Fancy Nancy books, there are plenty of new words and definitions to be found in this book. It's not just a fun mystery, but it is educational as well.
While I can appreciate the intent to have a continued appeal to girls who are a bit older than the target age of the original Fancy Nancy series, I felt this one was still awfully fun, but just seemed a tad less "fancy", than the earlier books geared toward younger girls. (4.5/5 stars)
Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser are the author and illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestselling Fancy Nancy series.
May 7, 2012
Move over Nancy Drew...Nancy Clancy is on the case! With her stylish pink trench coat, bejeweled magnifying glass and an arsenal of vocabulary words, she will solve any mystery that comes her way. Nancy and her BFF, Bree, are spending a considerable amount of time snooping around trying to find a mystery. Any mystery will do, they just want to practice their sleuthing skills. Their teacher, Mr. Dudeny, has assigned a superb writing assignment which might lead to a mystery for the girls. Having a mystery right in their very own classroom causes some unexpected developments. In fact the detectives soon end up with more than one mystery waiting to be solved. In true Fancy Nancy style, the reader will learn a great many new words as they follow Nancy in her new "grown-up" chapter book series. The numerous references to Nancy Drew are fun and will likely draw a new set of readers to the classic mystery series.
October 1, 2016
A fun and cute updating of Fancy Nancy for a slightly older audience. In homage to Nancy Drew, our Nancy wants to become a sleuth with her friend Bree, and solve their own mysteries. Jane O'Conner's short book is supportive and encouraging to the book's target audience, and sure to appeal to them; it's a good introduction to the mystery genre for that age set. It's also lavishly illustrated in an almost too-cute manner by Robin Preiss Glasser.
January 15, 2019
Read this one with my five year old and we both really enjoyed this first Nancy Clancy chapter book. We've been a big fan of the picture/story books for a while, and this was a nice transition as she moves to more involved books. We read a chapter a night over a period of time, and the book kept her attention, and she was super excited, and involved in the story each night!
November 8, 2018
This is a beginning chapter book, so it's quite simplistic for an adult to read. However, it did have some charm especially with all of its references to Nancy Drew and the rhinestone magnify glass.
2018 challenge: a book that was being read by a stranger in a public place (the library of course!)
2018 challenge: a book that was being read by a stranger in a public place (the library of course!)
March 24, 2019
The 8-10 me has fallen on love with this series. I love the Nancy Drew reference, the innocence and the simplicities and the complexities of how a child thinks and feels and processes. Right between the eyes!
April 10, 2018
The mystery in this book was exactly the right level for my six-year-old. She's looking forward to reading #2.
March 16, 2019
A mystery series that will appeal to those in 2-4th grade. Plausible mystery and fans of Fancy Nancy will enjoy this one!
January 24, 2022
Nancy and her best friend, Bree, have everything they need to solve a mystery, from their totally professional trench coats to their top-secret code.
But when crime strikes in their classroom, will these super sleuths be able to crack the case?
But when crime strikes in their classroom, will these super sleuths be able to crack the case?
January 16, 2021
So cute! I remember those happy childhood days I ran around with this book all the time. I pestered my mum to buy a trench coat for me, wrote my own secret code, and even made my own Mystery "Craker" detective business cards. Other little girls have their Disney princesses, I have my detectives xD
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July 15, 2025My daughter’s first chapter book! 🥹
January 27, 2013
I read this one with my daughter and she didn't care for it. I thought it was cute. I love this series as it is not dumb downed but uses a large vocublary for young readers. My daughter was bored with it. We will continue searching for her niche.
September 18, 2013
Nancy Clancy is awesome! She even has a rhinestone encrusted magnifying glass to solve crimes with!!
December 18, 2023
I am way older than this intended audience, but when I found the book on my bookshelf, I decided to read it, remembering how much I loved it when I was a kid. For the age range, I would say it was a very good read. There was a good lesson at the end, and I honestly laughed at some parts, seeing how younger kids reason. Overall, I would definitely recommend it for girls 6-10. It was well-written, fast paced, and the cover is really cute!
March 31, 2023
Nancy Clancy is so slay. Very impractical though...what 7 year old knows how to check fingerprints and stuff. Still she ate that up. As someone who just yesterday was reading 5o shades, and this morning Birthday Girl...I found this very refreshing. I highly suggest you read it.
April 27, 2025
Read with Jane - this book is so funny. Nancy is so loveable and sweet, and imperfect! Jane was so into this book, and we learned lots of new words too.
July 12, 2025
props to Nancy for not being a tattletale
September 7, 2022
Sweet, fun, funny, educational and entertainment with a good message.
February 17, 2025
It was perfect for my preschooler who loves listening to chapter books now.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews