Lights, Camera . . . Cats!

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew #8

by Carolyn Keene, Macky Pamintuan (Illustrator)

The Clue Crew is seeing stars!

Look out -- the Clue Crew is headed to Hollywood! Carson Drew's client invited him to the set of a new movie -- starring the most famous cat in Hollywood, Fluffington! The girls are thrilled when Mr. Drew asks them to come along. They get their first taste of a real movie set and are even cast as extras in the film. Plus they get to pet Fluffington as much as they want. But then Fluffington vanishes. When no one can find the famous feline, the Clue Crew springs into action -- because a movie is not a movie without its star!

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Detective, Fiction, Novels

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Carolyn 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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.

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of the same from this series...which isn't a bad thing.

[Kara Kuehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like all the educational information in this book. Kids who are interested in filmmaking would especially like it.

One part of the plot (who told the press about Fluffington’s disappearance) that was resolved very quickly on the last page of the book. I would have liked more explanation/confrontation.

Things to be aware of in “Lights, Camera . . . Cats”

Language:
- 2 “oh my gosh”
- 3 “dumb”
- 1 “big fat troublemaker”

Romantic Content:
- This book is about a movie star cat (Fluffington) that goes missing. In the end, they find out that Fluffington actually had run away with a stray cat and gave birth to kittens.

Additional Notes:
- A boy (Beezil) manipulates his father. “‘My dad will change his mind,’ Beezil went on. ‘He always does, about stuff like this. I know exactly how to make him do what I want to do.’”
- Beezil also plays mean pranks on his babysitters (all referenced in past tense)
- In the end, Beezil did not change his ways - I didn’t like that at all.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good mystery! Even if I hate knowing that I honestly should have figured out the answer, especially given the one huge clue in the form of a buried lede (which is most mysteries, but this one in particular).

Granted, the reason I didn't consider that is the star cat being pregnant and running away to birth the kittens is HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE of the owner, who apparently is not even in Hollywood for the filming of her pet's movie—instead living all the way on the opposite coast in NEW YORK—but is ALSO not spaying/neutering her pet(s)! I mean, it's still a believable answer, but... IRRESPONSIBLE.

Also, I'm pretty sure Beezil is acting up because... he's named BEEZIL. Honestly? Can't think of ANY normal kid names like Timmy or Douglas or even a boy named Sue? (haha)

Anyway, another good all-ages mystery I would happily buy for aspiring young detectives!

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Another good installment in the series. In this one, Nancy, Bess and George are in Hollywood with Mr Drew and Hannah because Mr Drew is the lawyer for a film exec. They're on the set for an alien movie with a famous cat named Fluffington. The cat goes missing and the girls are on the case! Theres a crazy fan, the son of the film producer, etc. so we have a good list of suspects, but the end is surprising and sweet.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

So popular that the library system has ordered another 12 copies! Miss 3 got bored after a chapter but I loved it and kept reading. I read all the Nancy Drew novels growing up and this is a fun entry to them with Nancy at age 8. It was actually nice having a mystery that made sense for 8 year olds - with a missing cat on a Hollywood movie set (as opposed to smugglers with guns). Cute ending too!

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one was still cute, but it was a little bizarre. Definitely my least favorite in the series so far.

[Kelly Choy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a dull read in terms of plot, but the ending was a bit more unique for this series.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked when they were looking on the camera and when they saw someone on it they thought it was who catnapped Fluffington.

[˜”*°•.˜”*°• Sheri •°*”˜.•°*”˜ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute story for this age group. Love the Clue Crew.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A movie set and a missing cat, the star of the show!

[V. Arrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so silly and very predictable, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Schu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Clue Crew are on the case in Hollywood, California, when the group tags along with Mr. Drew for a work meeting. While at the filming studio, Nancy, Bess, and George, meet with several staff members including the director, actors, and stagehands including make up, hair, and CGI designers. They also meet the director's unpleasant son. The gang is having a great time and are even acting as extras in the film. And, then, the star of the show disappears! The Clue Crew immediately acts on the case, creating a list of suspects by following the clues, until eventually the missing star is found. Another adorable Clue Crew book that I recommend for young readers.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are really enjoying this series as a precursor to the original Nancy Drew stories. This book takes us to Hollywood and all the glamour of Thunderchicken Studios?!? It's a silly story at times, but a fun read overall. Our girls love these tales - they are fun mysteries and not scary or overly complicated.

[Sangjoo Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was about the cat named Fluffington. She disappeared at the studio and the Clue Crew had to solve the mystery. I really like that Fluffington and Honey Mustard got married and had kittens. I think it was very cute.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is great for children who are starting to read chapter books. Not only do the pictures help the child to comprehend what is happening in the story, but the Nancy Drew books also help challenge its readers with their predictions of what will solve the mysteries.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was short but I liked it a lot!

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Malcolm says, "I like honey, and this book has a cat named Honey Mustard and I like mustard too. It was really interesting. I would give it four stars."

[sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it around age 10~12, loved the story

[Christine]

Read with my 7 year old daughter

[Courtney Holcomb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another classic