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Nancy Drew: Notebooks #1
The Slumber Party Secret
A party that turned into a disaster.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
13 people are currently reading
386 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,030 books3,877 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 27, 2016
This was just so much fun to read!
I am still looking for new Nancy Drew to read, and I found this series. It also features a child Nancy Drew, and I have to say, just like the other 2 series that I read about young Nancy Drew, that this one also does it perfectly. I loved how this book marked the beginning of Nancy's detective career. I sure can't wait to see what other cases she will have. Yes, I will be buying more of this book, they aren't that easy to find, but I will do my best to get this series complete, even if it takes some time.
I also love the side-characters. Bess, George are present, and they are just perfect. Their characteristics are all present, they are really fun, and they form a great team with Nancy.
The mystery and the whodunnit? Sure, I had some suspects, but as the book continued I still didn't know exactly who had done, and for good reasons. I won't say much about the whys, but if you read I am sure you will agree. Who did the stuff at the party, I knew that instantly. It could only be those characters.
I do have to say that I did think the girls who didn't get invited were spoiled and bleh. Come on, what did you think, that she can fit 15+ girls in her room? That is just how it goes for parties, some get invited, others don't. :| Unless of course the party girl is very rich and has a humongous house, but otherwise suck it up princesses.
Maybe rude, but I think it was just silly that there was so much drama over this.
The party was fun though, even if things didn't go according to plan. :)
I also loved Nancy's father he was just a fun character, and he was so sweet and supportive towards his daughter. <3
There are also illustrations here and there, and I loved that they were added to the mix, they really made the book so much more fun!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I am still looking for new Nancy Drew to read, and I found this series. It also features a child Nancy Drew, and I have to say, just like the other 2 series that I read about young Nancy Drew, that this one also does it perfectly. I loved how this book marked the beginning of Nancy's detective career. I sure can't wait to see what other cases she will have. Yes, I will be buying more of this book, they aren't that easy to find, but I will do my best to get this series complete, even if it takes some time.
I also love the side-characters. Bess, George are present, and they are just perfect. Their characteristics are all present, they are really fun, and they form a great team with Nancy.
The mystery and the whodunnit? Sure, I had some suspects, but as the book continued I still didn't know exactly who had done, and for good reasons. I won't say much about the whys, but if you read I am sure you will agree. Who did the stuff at the party, I knew that instantly. It could only be those characters.
I do have to say that I did think the girls who didn't get invited were spoiled and bleh. Come on, what did you think, that she can fit 15+ girls in her room? That is just how it goes for parties, some get invited, others don't. :| Unless of course the party girl is very rich and has a humongous house, but otherwise suck it up princesses.
Maybe rude, but I think it was just silly that there was so much drama over this.
The party was fun though, even if things didn't go according to plan. :)
I also loved Nancy's father he was just a fun character, and he was so sweet and supportive towards his daughter. <3
There are also illustrations here and there, and I loved that they were added to the mix, they really made the book so much more fun!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
October 4, 2019
Title: The Slumber Party Secret
Author: Carolyn Keene
Series: Nancy Drew: Notebooks, 1
Format: ebook
Length: 69 pages
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis: When her friend's party is in jeopardy, Nancy takes the case!
Rebecca Ramirez's birthday is just two days away, and she's having a slumber party. She made the invitations herself, with rainbow ribbon hair clips and everything. But now the invitations are gone. Somebody took them and the whole party is ruined.
Or is it? Nancy Drew is on the case and maybe she can make sure Rebecca's birthday is a party after all!
Mini-review: Cute. It was nice to see diversity in the illustrations. Loved what a tomboy George is.
Author: Carolyn Keene
Series: Nancy Drew: Notebooks, 1
Format: ebook
Length: 69 pages
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis: When her friend's party is in jeopardy, Nancy takes the case!
Rebecca Ramirez's birthday is just two days away, and she's having a slumber party. She made the invitations herself, with rainbow ribbon hair clips and everything. But now the invitations are gone. Somebody took them and the whole party is ruined.
Or is it? Nancy Drew is on the case and maybe she can make sure Rebecca's birthday is a party after all!
Mini-review: Cute. It was nice to see diversity in the illustrations. Loved what a tomboy George is.
January 9, 2020
Great start for Nancy as a detective
July 25, 2022
Great short bedtime book (or a midnight snack bonding time with my future child ***spoiler alert*** as with any Nancy Drew book, there is food so deliciously described in full detail, you would want to snack while reading). I grew up reading Nancy Drew and this short version of her early sleuthing days is perfect for rekindling my love for the book. 5 stars.
March 21, 2024
Who's trying to ruin Rebecca's plans for a slumber party? Nancy is determined to solve this mystery for her friend and becomes a detective. It's a fun read for middle-grade readers to follow the leads as Nancy finds the answers to the numerous questions in her very first case.
July 29, 2018
Good book for beginners.
Read
April 29, 2022Book 2/69 of reading/rereading The Nancy Drew Notebooks because I finally can lol
I get why I used to like these books so much.
I get why I used to like these books so much.
June 27, 2022
Nancy solves her first case ever!
January 9, 2023
First Goosebumps and now the Nancy Drew Notebooks. Maybe I should make it a tradition to start the year off with a bunch of chapter books from my childhood. I guess we'll see next year.
March 8, 2023
🎧 Barndoms minner, utrolig koselig bok🫶🏻
December 12, 2024
Very entertaining short story.
January 18, 2016
A girl is going to hold a slumber party and Nancy gets invited. The problems start when the mother limits the number of girls that can come, and one of the girls at school gets very, very upset that she was not invited.
Things go bad from then with the invitations seeming to have been stolen. Then Rebecca, the girl holding the party, gets a threatening note. Rebecca brings cupcakes to class, but a thug-in-training boy steals one of them and one girl doesn't get one. Rebecca gets another nasty note, and even Nancy ends up getting one left on her front door.
When the part is held, the part during the daytime is held outside and two boys sabotage that part. Another one ends up trying to scare the girls at night
Throughout all of this Nancy uses the blue notebook her father had just given her as her own detective notebook and tries to figure out who is behind all these things going wrong. More than one person seems to be involved, which complicates things, but Nancy, of course, figures things out. It's a good first book in the new series.
Things go bad from then with the invitations seeming to have been stolen. Then Rebecca, the girl holding the party, gets a threatening note. Rebecca brings cupcakes to class, but a thug-in-training boy steals one of them and one girl doesn't get one. Rebecca gets another nasty note, and even Nancy ends up getting one left on her front door.
When the part is held, the part during the daytime is held outside and two boys sabotage that part. Another one ends up trying to scare the girls at night
Throughout all of this Nancy uses the blue notebook her father had just given her as her own detective notebook and tries to figure out who is behind all these things going wrong. More than one person seems to be involved, which complicates things, but Nancy, of course, figures things out. It's a good first book in the new series.
October 28, 2014
A great choice for mystery fans who aren't old enough to read the more mature Nancy Drew adventures. In this series Nancy is 8, Bess and George are also in these stories, they are simple to read, have fun pictures and are not frightening.
In Nancy's first mystery she's asked to find the missing invitations to a friend's slumber party. They disappeared from her kitchen and there are plenty of suspects to choose from, Rebecca's next door neighbor, girls who weren't invited and of course the boys in class who are having a sleep over on the same night! Tag along with Nancy Drew as she solves her first case!
In Nancy's first mystery she's asked to find the missing invitations to a friend's slumber party. They disappeared from her kitchen and there are plenty of suspects to choose from, Rebecca's next door neighbor, girls who weren't invited and of course the boys in class who are having a sleep over on the same night! Tag along with Nancy Drew as she solves her first case!
December 7, 2011
Warning: This review may contain spoilers.
This was one of the good books from my childhood! I was always intrigued with mystery stories. Books that involved Nancy Drew fed my interest. I found it interesting to read books from her younger days. They may seem very childish, but hey! It is still a fast and fun read.
This was one of the good books from my childhood! I was always intrigued with mystery stories. Books that involved Nancy Drew fed my interest. I found it interesting to read books from her younger days. They may seem very childish, but hey! It is still a fast and fun read.
July 24, 2016
I thought I'd read all the Nancy Drew books but this is a newer series that I'd never heard of.
When someone steals the invitations for Rebecca Ramirez's birthday slumber party, Nancy Drew promises to find them.
When someone steals the invitations for Rebecca Ramirez's birthday slumber party, Nancy Drew promises to find them.
December 4, 2008
This book is really funny, I love mysteries!
April 7, 2009
i liked this book because it had so many characters and who could ruin the sleep over and i recommend this book to all
February 9, 2011
So cute!
October 11, 2011
7 year old loved this one. It is the first book in a long series of Nancy Drew's.
May 16, 2013
i really want to read this book via goodreads but when i click onto that book i dont know what happens :'( can some1 plizz tell mi how can i read this book via goodreads *desparate*
June 28, 2013
Aww I remember these! I think they were the very first chapter books I ever read. I remember them being quite funny although the mystery was never very hard to figure out.
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December 27, 2013AR Quiz No. 25941 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.9 - AR Pts: 1.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.9 - AR Pts: 1.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP
February 25, 2014
2011.6.11 9800words
September 9, 2014
I thought this book was pretty good but I think it should of had two things happening a once!! The problem is it was only about one thing. But I had no idea who the thief was!!
June 22, 2014
This book was cute! I love Nancy Drew! The books about her are the best!
July 29, 2015
(3.5)
A great children's book but very short..
A great children's book but very short..
January 7, 2023
loved love it
Read
November 22, 2020I have some fun. looking forward to read more Nancy Drew series 😊
July 27, 2011
Just read this with the kid. :) She loved it!!!
October 7, 2011
Just read this with the kid. :) She loved it!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews