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Nancy Drew: Girl Detective #33
Secret Identity
Everyone knows about the online group BetterLife. But what starts out as a fun virtual reality site turns into a living nightmare for Bess's twelve-year-old sister and her friends when one of them becomes a target of cyberbullying!
I create my own BetterLife profile to investigate how the program works and find out who could be targeting the girl and why. But nothing online is what it seems -- everyone is hiding behind their virtual identities. It's almost impossible to track down who is behind anything!
Is this a simple case of middle school girls being mean to each other, or could it be something scarier? It's up to my friends and me to do some cyberdigging and unmask the secret identities of the BetterLife bullies!
I create my own BetterLife profile to investigate how the program works and find out who could be targeting the girl and why. But nothing online is what it seems -- everyone is hiding behind their virtual identities. It's almost impossible to track down who is behind anything!
Is this a simple case of middle school girls being mean to each other, or could it be something scarier? It's up to my friends and me to do some cyberdigging and unmask the secret identities of the BetterLife bullies!
176 pages, Paperback
First published December 16, 2008
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,204 books4,068 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 4, 2014
The online game known as BetterLife is a sensation being played worldwide, and the town of River Heights is no exception. Unfortunately BetterLife isn't offering a better life to some. A friend of Bess's younger sister has become the victim of excessive online bullying and Nancy Drew has taken up the case. But in the online world of fake names and anonymity, finding out the identity of a bully is no easy case.
Secret Identity is the first book in the Identity Mystery Trilogy and it offers a rather unique mystery for our favorite girl detective – and a rather challenging one as well. Nancy is a little out of her element in this case, after all questioning subjects isn't exactly easy when they can block out with the push of a button. With this being a trilogy, I wasn't quite sure how the book was going to go. My worst fear was that by the end of it, the bully's identity would still be a mystery and Nancy would still be nowhere near solving the case. Instead there was a satisfying ending with one case being solved while leading into another – leaving me eager to pick up book number two to find out what happens next.
Secret Identity is the first book in the Identity Mystery Trilogy and it offers a rather unique mystery for our favorite girl detective – and a rather challenging one as well. Nancy is a little out of her element in this case, after all questioning subjects isn't exactly easy when they can block out with the push of a button. With this being a trilogy, I wasn't quite sure how the book was going to go. My worst fear was that by the end of it, the bully's identity would still be a mystery and Nancy would still be nowhere near solving the case. Instead there was a satisfying ending with one case being solved while leading into another – leaving me eager to pick up book number two to find out what happens next.
April 29, 2021
There is something just so weird about Nancy Drew on a computer....
June 10, 2022
Not my favorite Nancy Drew, but I enjoyed the cliffhanger at the end to make you read the next one in the trilogy.
May 18, 2015
This is Book One of the 'Identity Mystery Trilogy'. When Nancy takes on the case of a 12-year-old girl who's being cyber-bullied in real-life and on the virtual reality game site BetterLife, she creates an avatar called Virtual Nancy so she can investigate other players in the game. However, she soon discovers that nothing online is quite as it seems. How do you know what's real and what's not? And what happens when virtual life spills over into real-life?
I really enjoyed this book as a mystery, but I also liked the message. It showed why it's important to be careful online, how easy it is for people to hide behind fake personas, and the effects of both real-life bullying and cyber-bullying. I also liked the way it showed how bullying is not always straightforward and how things can quickly escalate to harmful proportions. Best of all, it was done in an entertaining rather than preachy way, and has the potential to help children and teens think about what they should and shouldn't do online.
I really enjoyed this book as a mystery, but I also liked the message. It showed why it's important to be careful online, how easy it is for people to hide behind fake personas, and the effects of both real-life bullying and cyber-bullying. I also liked the way it showed how bullying is not always straightforward and how things can quickly escalate to harmful proportions. Best of all, it was done in an entertaining rather than preachy way, and has the potential to help children and teens think about what they should and shouldn't do online.
September 12, 2023
2 Stars.
What I Liked:
• Seeing Nancy in a more modern time
What Wasn't My Cup of Tea:
• I'm not the target audience
• Nancy seems not as sharp as a detective as in the original
Overall Thoughts:
This was my first look into a Nancy Drew book that was more of a spinoff of the original. I was rereading some of the old series & stumbled upon this one & my biggest criticism is that I am not it's intended audience. With the original Nancy Drew series I could read it & not awkwardly cringe all the time, it was definitely dated, but still readable to an older audience. This book was definitely meant for those in middle school or even elementary. Plus Nancy just wasn't as smart or as likeable in this series. She constantly blows off Ned, which is rude & she knows she's doing it. Then she has no idea what BetterLife is, which just might be a plot device to let the reader know what it is, but not very smart or knowledgable as a detective should be.
Overall, I liked seeing a more modern take of Nancy but a lot of the reading was cringe & immature.
What I Liked:
• Seeing Nancy in a more modern time
What Wasn't My Cup of Tea:
• I'm not the target audience
• Nancy seems not as sharp as a detective as in the original
Overall Thoughts:
This was my first look into a Nancy Drew book that was more of a spinoff of the original. I was rereading some of the old series & stumbled upon this one & my biggest criticism is that I am not it's intended audience. With the original Nancy Drew series I could read it & not awkwardly cringe all the time, it was definitely dated, but still readable to an older audience. This book was definitely meant for those in middle school or even elementary. Plus Nancy just wasn't as smart or as likeable in this series. She constantly blows off Ned, which is rude & she knows she's doing it. Then she has no idea what BetterLife is, which just might be a plot device to let the reader know what it is, but not very smart or knowledgable as a detective should be.
Overall, I liked seeing a more modern take of Nancy but a lot of the reading was cringe & immature.
January 19, 2020
I read this book in one sitting. It’s different from rest of the Nancy Drew books but it was entertaining and I really enjoyed it. Can’t wait to read the next book in the trilogy!
February 11, 2020
I couldn't put down this book!!
Just reread the trilogy and want disappointed! Great characters, plot, and use of gaming knowledge. The author really painted the world of BetterLife in my mind.
Just reread the trilogy and want disappointed! Great characters, plot, and use of gaming knowledge. The author really painted the world of BetterLife in my mind.
January 9, 2022
The ending was amazing , didn’t think it will end this way .
January 12, 2025
Drinking game: Take a shot everytime Nancy squeezes someone's hand(or arm). You're gonna pass out by the second chapter.
Jokes aside, this used to be one of my favourite novels when I was younger and I've read it so many times I've lost count. But it's been years since my last read so when I felt like readingsomething that's familar, I decided to pick up this book. Sure now that I'm older and am about Nancy's age, some things make me roll my eyes but still it's an enjoyable book. I have a fascination with simulation games and the like so the premise of a virtual reality game where you can build yourself a 'better life' and socialise with other people got me hooked on. And while I did remember some of the important plot points of the novel I still had fun (re)discovering the clues and unravelling the mystery with Nancy. There was barely any Bess, George or Ned in the novel but if I remember right we see them more in the next two books so that's not an issue.
Anyways, it was a fun read. Though not as amazing as I remembered it to be(which makes sense, I'm older and my tastes and views have changed), it still was great to read. It was kind of a walk down the memory lane; as I carried on with the book I could remember my first time reading the book and how I felt during those times and that was heartwarming.
Yeah so on to the next book!
Jokes aside, this used to be one of my favourite novels when I was younger and I've read it so many times I've lost count. But it's been years since my last read so when I felt like readingsomething that's familar, I decided to pick up this book. Sure now that I'm older and am about Nancy's age, some things make me roll my eyes but still it's an enjoyable book. I have a fascination with simulation games and the like so the premise of a virtual reality game where you can build yourself a 'better life' and socialise with other people got me hooked on. And while I did remember some of the important plot points of the novel I still had fun (re)discovering the clues and unravelling the mystery with Nancy. There was barely any Bess, George or Ned in the novel but if I remember right we see them more in the next two books so that's not an issue.
Anyways, it was a fun read. Though not as amazing as I remembered it to be(which makes sense, I'm older and my tastes and views have changed), it still was great to read. It was kind of a walk down the memory lane; as I carried on with the book I could remember my first time reading the book and how I felt during those times and that was heartwarming.
Yeah so on to the next book!
October 20, 2024
Bullying. A social issue which can make the lives of people difficult and challenging. Our beloved girl detective Nancy Drew finds herself in a case involving CYBERBULLYING, which is bullying on the web. People posing as completely different individuals on the computer already sounds confusing, right? But when 12-year-old Shannon Fitzgerald is bullied and harassed through a video game, it's up to Nancy to bust the cyberbullies' identities and get to the bottom of this mess. How bewildering can this case be?
This book is apt for all the mystery lovers out there, from the age of 7. If you're one of them, then grab a copy at the earliest and enjoy reading!!!
This book is apt for all the mystery lovers out there, from the age of 7. If you're one of them, then grab a copy at the earliest and enjoy reading!!!
May 11, 2024
Nancy's detective skills in this feel so heavy handed that it's out of character in my eyes. And the way that the real culprit slipped right under her nose for so long even after the barista said "someone with dark hair and dark eyes".
The twist at the end has me real curious though on whether what happened to Nancy's account was a hack or if some funky stuff happens to the accounts when the user goes offline and the avatar goes on "survival mode" in the game.
The twist at the end has me real curious though on whether what happened to Nancy's account was a hack or if some funky stuff happens to the accounts when the user goes offline and the avatar goes on "survival mode" in the game.
February 6, 2024
Nancy is a bad detective but a good person :)
July 29, 2010
This book is okay. It is quite different than the rest of the books. This reminds me a lot of the Nancy Drew notebooks. The characters on betterlife are just mean. And then it's really rude for someone to use Nancy's account. These middle schools girl are mean. Nancy does reveal how bad cyberbullying really is. These middle schools girl are hiding by their phones and their computer. Today cyberbullying is a big problem. This book is very realistic.
However what I don't like is that this author isn't the same author who wrote the other books. The new author left out something very important. It drives me crazy that this book is told in 1st person. The original books were told 3rd person and so was the other new series. In fact the author who is writing these now doesn't quite as good mysteries.
However what I don't like is that this author isn't the same author who wrote the other books. The new author left out something very important. It drives me crazy that this book is told in 1st person. The original books were told 3rd person and so was the other new series. In fact the author who is writing these now doesn't quite as good mysteries.
April 22, 2013
It's an excellent book teaching the troubles with cyber bulling!! Shannon is a popular girl with lots of friends. She is Sassygirl48 in a virtual world (game) called BetterLife. Shannon is playing her avatar when she comes across an avatar that looks EXACTLY like her crush, Jake!! The avatar flirts with her for a while but then things start to change. He starts bullying her!! He gives her a strong dose of cyber bullying but he's not alone because lots of other avatars and kids at school start to bully her too!! She is devastated that her crush would do that to her. Something's not right!! Can Nancy Drew help desperate Shannon? As Nancy starts to put pieces of the puzzle together she learns that Shannon is sort of a bully??
May 30, 2015
It was disconcerting to see how far the bullying went in this book, and especially to see how intensely the flirting was represented among 12-year olds. While I want my 10-year old (who chose this book at the library) to know about cyber dangers, I cringe to realize that these are real-life situations for today's youth. The book develops well, and the ending leaves you hanging, with a great segue to the next book in the series. If your tween reads this book, make sure you sandwich his or her reading with parent discussions about the pros and cons of online "reality gaming." It should not be read in a void.
August 27, 2010
The first three chapters had me completely engrossed. I could not put this book down! I mean, I have to admit that I just love the internet and the sites on it; and this book was about a game on the net. It was also about bullying on this game. This young girl calls Nancy in to investigate why people are bullying her on this game called Better Life. Nancy snoops around the game and asks the girls' so called 'friends' and discovers who's behind the bullying. Just when Nancy thinks the mystery is solved, another case comes up similar to the first one...hence, book two.
November 18, 2011
Wow, thinking about Nancy Drew solving cases involving cybercrime... weird.
This was a pleasure to read, very light and easy.
The books have really evolved along with the times. I felt BetterLife was kind of like Facebook and cyberbullying is quite a common thing on this site. I personally, am not on Facebook mainly because of the same reason. I really liked this book and loved the fact that it tried to connect with the present generation. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
This was a pleasure to read, very light and easy.
The books have really evolved along with the times. I felt BetterLife was kind of like Facebook and cyberbullying is quite a common thing on this site. I personally, am not on Facebook mainly because of the same reason. I really liked this book and loved the fact that it tried to connect with the present generation. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
June 19, 2017
This was much better than the Eco Mystery triology, seriously.
I really loved the concept and it was really cool and interesting.
I'm still thinking who can be behind all this?? I had a doubt on Rebacca at first but my doubt was cleared after that...
I cannot wait for the next book😀
I never imagined I would love it so much..
I really loved the concept and it was really cool and interesting.
I'm still thinking who can be behind all this?? I had a doubt on Rebacca at first but my doubt was cleared after that...
I cannot wait for the next book😀
I never imagined I would love it so much..
June 21, 2014
Read all the Nancy Drew books as a young girl and now my daughter started reading them, too. Picked this book up, part of the new stories created for the girl detective. Have to find out what happens in books 2 and 3 of the trilogy.
July 9, 2012
I LIKE NANCY DREW.
Read
July 3, 2013I loved it
April 17, 2014
Loved this book! Fun reread w some deeper messages in it
December 21, 2014
Awesome I guessed the culprit just before she revealed the culprit and this mystery Is handled perfectly.
May 20, 2015
a very interesting n breath-taking book. I love dis book a lot n might have read it thousands of times in d past three years.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2023
3.75 stars
January 1, 2013
i really enjoyed this trilogy
I just cant get enough of Nancy drew
I just cant get enough of Nancy drew
August 8, 2016
it was a great book. it left me of a clift hanger that I just HAD to buy the next book right away
September 22, 2017
I liked this book because I thought that the app that they use in the game is really cool. I also thought that the lot twist at the end was crazy! I recommend.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews