The Mystery of the Missing Mascot

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #119

by Carolyn Keene

NANCY LOOKS INTO A SEEMINGLY HARMLESS PRANK AND FINDS EVIDENCE OF AN ARTFUL CRIMINAL COVER-UP! The River Heights High Wildcats are facing their bitter rivals, Red Rocks High, in a girls' softball play-off game. But before the first pitch is thrown, the spirit of foul play intrudes. Someone breaks into River Heights High and steals the school's prized trophies -- a treasured portrait of a pioneering woman coach and the team mascot's cougar costume! Nancy, however, is convinced that the theft is not a simple case of bad sportsmanship. For the closer she comes to the truth, the more dangerous the game becomes. The burglar has already demonstrated a talent for disguise and deception. . . and has now decided to play true hardball, taking aim at Nancy Drew!

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Childrens, Thriller, Adventure, Fiction, Middle Grade

160 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1994

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

the last book in my nancy drew reread, and this was such a good one to end on. the tie-in with the painting was just fantastic!

[Eric Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story was cleverly written and was very suspenseful. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Rebel Gamer13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a very good book , I recommend this book for anyone who likes mysteries .....
SERIOUSLY , NANCY DREW ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!

[LuAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t always like the ND books set in schools, but this one was pretty creative.

[V. Arrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that they secretly smuggled an art heist mystery into a book that looks like a sports mystery. Also, the villain in this one is so despicable!

[Chaitra Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always fun to go back to these type of novels.... So comforting 💓 I must say I m really a very big fan of Nancy Drew.. 🤭🤍 What a great detective 😚❤