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Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew #33
The Pumpkin Patch Puzzle
When the plans for the annual pumpkin decorating contest are smashed, Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew are on the hunt for a Fall Festival felon.It’s autumn in River Heights, and that means it’s time for the annual Fall Festival! Nancy, Bess, and George are excited for a whole week of games, rides, delicious treats, and the famous pumpkin-decorating contest. They are all participating for the first time this year! But the day the girls are set to compete, all the designs for the contest are stolen and the decorating supplies are destroyed. If the culprit doesn’t come forward, the contest will be canceled—and a River Heights tradition will be ruined. It’s up to Nancy and the Clue Crew to solve this pumpkin patch mystery!
72 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 25, 2012
36 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,057 books3,885 followersCarolyn Keene is a writer pen name that was used by many different people- both men and women- over the years. The company that was the creator of the Nancy Drew series, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, hired a variety of writers. For Nancy Drew, the writers used the pseudonym Carolyn Keene to assure anonymity of the creator.
Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.
Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.
Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.
Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 25, 2021
Annual fall festival is approaching and everyone is looking forward to it. Each year at the festival, pumpkin-decorating contest is held and all the kids are looking forward to it. They have even started to come with ideas for their pumpkins. All the participants are required to submit their ideas and entry forms in an envelope and submit it before the festival.
A new student, Emma enrolls in Nancy's class and Nancy invites her over for pumpkin decorating practice. Emma isn't keen on this and Nancy finds out that Emma and her younger sister have moved here to live with their aunt who also organizes the annual fall festival and Emma doesn't like it because her aunt spends all her time talking about or organizing the festival.
On the day of the contest, they find out that someone has ruined all the pumpkins and the area is in disarray, they also find out that all the entry forms for the contest are also missing. The clue crew- Nancy, George and Bess start to investigate and they find out the person behind it and solve yet another mystery.
It was a quick and cute read although not my favorite in the series. I liked the mystery though.
3 stars
A new student, Emma enrolls in Nancy's class and Nancy invites her over for pumpkin decorating practice. Emma isn't keen on this and Nancy finds out that Emma and her younger sister have moved here to live with their aunt who also organizes the annual fall festival and Emma doesn't like it because her aunt spends all her time talking about or organizing the festival.
On the day of the contest, they find out that someone has ruined all the pumpkins and the area is in disarray, they also find out that all the entry forms for the contest are also missing. The clue crew- Nancy, George and Bess start to investigate and they find out the person behind it and solve yet another mystery.
It was a quick and cute read although not my favorite in the series. I liked the mystery though.
3 stars
October 6, 2016
After a disappointing other Nancy Drew book (from a different series), I was a bit worried about this one.
But it turns out I didn't have to worry, as this one was just such a delight. All kind of suspects, the girls don't go check them out one by one, instead they have a list and they keep their eyes out for clues, for things that are off. It was so much more fun, and so much more exciting than the other book. You kept wondering who the suspect was, and while I had a few suspects, every time they found new evidence I had to reconsider if my suspects were still suspects.
I also picked this book because of the pumpkins. It is almost Halloween so I thought this one would fit perfectly with my Halloween 2016 books. It also has mystery, so it fits even more. :P
This time our girls meet a new friend (didn't like her much at the beginning, but I later started liking her more and more as the story went on and we found out some stuff about her life), and are going to participate in a competition. I really loved the festival and I wish I could have gone with the girls. Lots of food that are unknown to me (fritters, or deep fried apples and other stuff) that I want to try out. I want to see the events, and of course I do want to participate in the pumpkin decorating thing. Even though I never done any pumpkin carving, so I probably will not do well, but hey, as long as it is fun that is the most important to everything. :P
I didn't particularly like the adults in this one. Nancy's dad, and her housekeeper were really fun, but I didn't like the others. They were mean and dismissive. Yes, maybe it is a case for the police, but let those kids also do a bit of fun sleuthing. Especially with the ending. I guess those adults learned that kids are awesome too in finding things and solving mysteries.
The illustrations are a bit meh. They just don't fit the style of the book. Still it was fun that they added illustrations to the book, it gave the book something extra.
All in all, I will be soon reading the next book of this series that got delivered at the same time. :)
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
But it turns out I didn't have to worry, as this one was just such a delight. All kind of suspects, the girls don't go check them out one by one, instead they have a list and they keep their eyes out for clues, for things that are off. It was so much more fun, and so much more exciting than the other book. You kept wondering who the suspect was, and while I had a few suspects, every time they found new evidence I had to reconsider if my suspects were still suspects.
I also picked this book because of the pumpkins. It is almost Halloween so I thought this one would fit perfectly with my Halloween 2016 books. It also has mystery, so it fits even more. :P
This time our girls meet a new friend (didn't like her much at the beginning, but I later started liking her more and more as the story went on and we found out some stuff about her life), and are going to participate in a competition. I really loved the festival and I wish I could have gone with the girls. Lots of food that are unknown to me (fritters, or deep fried apples and other stuff) that I want to try out. I want to see the events, and of course I do want to participate in the pumpkin decorating thing. Even though I never done any pumpkin carving, so I probably will not do well, but hey, as long as it is fun that is the most important to everything. :P
I didn't particularly like the adults in this one. Nancy's dad, and her housekeeper were really fun, but I didn't like the others. They were mean and dismissive. Yes, maybe it is a case for the police, but let those kids also do a bit of fun sleuthing. Especially with the ending. I guess those adults learned that kids are awesome too in finding things and solving mysteries.
The illustrations are a bit meh. They just don't fit the style of the book. Still it was fun that they added illustrations to the book, it gave the book something extra.
All in all, I will be soon reading the next book of this series that got delivered at the same time. :)
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
February 25, 2017
Good...but not my favorite in this series.
October 30, 2022
3.5 stars - This was a cute and fun filled mystery just in time for Halloween! The title of the book was a little misleading as Nancy and her friends never visit a pumpkin patch. Also, when Nancy solves the mystery, it involves two characters that were barely mentioned in the story so it wasn’t as satisfying as an end as I was looking forward to. All in all though, I enjoyed this quick little read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2021
The Clue Crew stories are absolutely adorable! I love seeing the team work between George, Nancy, and Bess when they solve mysteries. The titles of the chapters are cute and so are the illustrations. I have enjoyed reading about the Drew family including glimpses into Nancy's mother (which I don't recall reading about as much in the original series). This particular mystery involved finding who was trying to ruin the Halloween Festival and there were a few red herrings but that did not dissuade the Clue Crew. The book also included crafts for younger readers, which I loved! Would recommend this series to parents of elementary aged children. ⭐⭐⭐1/2
November 1, 2020
I jumped way ahead in the series so I could read this one for Halloween.
This was super cute, as always. I found it interesting that they are no longer friends with Deirdre here, as I’ve been wondering when that switch would happen. I’m curious to go back to where I left off in the series and see when and why they stop being friends!
This was super cute, as always. I found it interesting that they are no longer friends with Deirdre here, as I’ve been wondering when that switch would happen. I’m curious to go back to where I left off in the series and see when and why they stop being friends!
March 29, 2025
Is it because we're 33 books in? Or because the author isn't good? Or is it me? These are just getting boring. They're having a fall festival and someone has stolen the pumpkin design and someone else has messed with all the supplies, threatening the future of the festival. It felt overly dramatic and silly.
January 16, 2022
Motives were so petty and unjustified lol
June 4, 2022
My daughter wasn’t into this mystery like the previous book she read, but it was good.
March 2, 2024
3 1/2 stars rated by 9 year old
October 22, 2024
I want to eat apple cider donuts 🍩 now
September 26, 2014
Any kid who wants to enter the school's fall festival pumpkin-decorating contest must submit a sketch of their design before the event. But on the day of the contest, the organizers find that their decorating supplies and pumpkins had been vandalized, and the design papers stolen. Can Nancy Drew and her Clue Crew solve the mystery and find the culprit?
A little more complicated a plot than most of the Clue Crew books, making it a little more confusing to figure out. It will still be enjoyed by fans of Nancy Drew. Ages 7-9.
A little more complicated a plot than most of the Clue Crew books, making it a little more confusing to figure out. It will still be enjoyed by fans of Nancy Drew. Ages 7-9.
November 3, 2015
My 8-year-old had to read this for a book report and I decided to leaf through it so that I can help her along with the report. After a few minutes, she was laughing and pointing at me chanting "you've gotten hoooooked!" Indeed, I put it down only when I read the entire thing, and even prided myself on solving most of the mystery before the culprits were revealed. I never read this series as a kid, I'll chalk that up to being an immigrant child. I certainly wasn't expecting much (or anything, really). Very pleasantly surprised.
September 28, 2014
There's going to be a pumpkin decorating contests at the festival this year, and Bess, George and Nancy are planning to enter, so are lots of other kids, but the day of the contest comes and they find out someone has destroyed the supplies and the contest design entries are missing! Who would be so mean? The Clue Crew is on the case to solve the Pumpkin Patch Puzzle!
December 5, 2014
I read this book with my reading buddies and it is a really fun mystery. It follows three friends as they try to solve a mystery. I would use this as a read aloud in my classroom because it would be fun to stop and ask questions and get the kids thinking.
January 19, 2015
WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE PUMPKINS! I like when they find out who it is. I do like when see what happened to the inside of the tent. I also like when they can still paint the pumpkins.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews