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Nancy Drew: Girl Detective #21
Close Encounters
books
176 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2006
11 people are currently reading
404 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
948 books3,854 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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
November 15, 2020
A different sort of mystery for this series...but a fun one.
EDIT: I didn't realize before buying this recently that I'd already read it! Still, that was three and a half years ago, so, I gave it another try...and, as usual, I had fun with it. Hopefully, I can get my hands on other books in the series--especially the ones I have yet to read--sometime soon.
EDIT: I didn't realize before buying this recently that I'd already read it! Still, that was three and a half years ago, so, I gave it another try...and, as usual, I had fun with it. Hopefully, I can get my hands on other books in the series--especially the ones I have yet to read--sometime soon.
September 16, 2025
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this as I hadn't heard very good things about the Girl Detective series, but this is honestly one of the best Nancy Drew books.
December 4, 2020
Another fun one!
February 24, 2021
Gripping story and exciting characters.
January 13, 2022
Just a fun, non-serious read where one shouldn't ever care about logic.
January 6, 2025
predictable, unrealistic and definitely not a favorite.
March 30, 2021
This one's weird...I don't know how to feel about it to be honest...
January 18, 2016
2005 edition. This is the first Nancy Drew Girl Detective book that I bought. I was attracted to it because it deals with a Civil War reenactment, and I happen to be very interested in the Civil War and wanted to see what kind of a story for Nancy Drew it would make.
The town is going to hold a reenactment and the townspeople are choosing which side they wish to fight on. Reflecting the actual feeling in some towns of that time, the people are divided, the majority wanting to fight with the Union, the minority with the Confederacy. The feelings between the groups tend to get rather heated, again just as it was during the real war.
People try to do some research on their ancestors to find out which side they were on and Nancy finds out her ancestors were on the side of the Confederates which actually causes her some problems with her friends.
The mystery part deals with some things that are going on that indicate someone is sabotaging the event, going so far as to messing with a fireworks display which could have resulted in severe injuries or worse to the crowd watching.
There's even poison in a canteen.
Nancy has an abundance of suspects, one of whom is not above using real bullets instead of blanks.
I think it's a well-done book, both as a mystery and as an indication of how strong some people still feel about a war that ended over 140 years ago.
The town is going to hold a reenactment and the townspeople are choosing which side they wish to fight on. Reflecting the actual feeling in some towns of that time, the people are divided, the majority wanting to fight with the Union, the minority with the Confederacy. The feelings between the groups tend to get rather heated, again just as it was during the real war.
People try to do some research on their ancestors to find out which side they were on and Nancy finds out her ancestors were on the side of the Confederates which actually causes her some problems with her friends.
The mystery part deals with some things that are going on that indicate someone is sabotaging the event, going so far as to messing with a fireworks display which could have resulted in severe injuries or worse to the crowd watching.
There's even poison in a canteen.
Nancy has an abundance of suspects, one of whom is not above using real bullets instead of blanks.
I think it's a well-done book, both as a mystery and as an indication of how strong some people still feel about a war that ended over 140 years ago.
May 8, 2015
3.5 stars. Nancy and her best friends, Bess and George, think they're in for a pleasant holiday visiting Winnie in the sleepy town of Brody's Junction, Vermont. However, strange sightings of UFOs have brought a flock of tourists, space junkies, journalists, and a reality TV crew to the town. Nancy and her friends are skeptical, but when an old man and his dog disappear, there's speculation that alien abductions are afoot. Or is there a more human explanation for the strange happenings?
This is another good one in the Nancy Drew series. It's a classic whodunnit, with a range of suspects and clues for Nancy to suss out. A couple of scenarios stretched credibility a bit (e.g. the tool box that just happened to be in the right place at the right time), but it was a fun read. There's also a nice subplot about the importance of reconciliation.
This is another good one in the Nancy Drew series. It's a classic whodunnit, with a range of suspects and clues for Nancy to suss out. A couple of scenarios stretched credibility a bit (e.g. the tool box that just happened to be in the right place at the right time), but it was a fun read. There's also a nice subplot about the importance of reconciliation.
September 11, 2007
I COMPLETLY LOVE THIS BOOK ITS ENTERTAINING AND GOOD THINGS AND DETAILS IN IT ITS A WONDERFUL BOOK TOO READ!!!!!!!!!=}
July 16, 2011
Boring! Boring!!! It's about UFO's and aliens. Boring!
September 1, 2011
it was boring ,maybe because im not into sci-fi
April 2, 2014
unlike many of the Nancy Drew stories
this one had a extra terrestrial twist which I
thought was interesting
this one had a extra terrestrial twist which I
thought was interesting
July 31, 2014
Not so interesting
March 1, 2011
Great book, I would tell everyone to read it
October 24, 2017
it was boring ,maybe because im not into sci-fi
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews