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Nancy Drew: On Campus #2
On Her Own
Signing up with the university newspaper, Nancy Drew prepares to break a story that could mean disgrace or even danger for her new friend Scooter, and things are complicated by the arrival of Ned, who does not understand Nancy's confused feelings. Original.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1995
133 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,002 books3,866 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 29, 2021
Continuing to revisit this series from my childhood. And wow, Ned comes off as a bit of jerk in this one, not gonna lie. He willingly flirts with Stephanie, because he's feeling hurt and neglected. He leaves Wilder University in the middle of the night and waits two days to apologize and let Nancy know he got back to Emerson okay. This characterization just further supports my theory this was meant to be seen as a continuation of sorts of the Files series and to attract the same readers.
Will doesn't come across much better, as quickly as he believes George is deliberately toying with him. But at least the book tries to justify this with an implication he has was cheated on with his last girlfriend. Not great, but understandable.
Have I mentioned that I love how Bess supports Brian once he comes out? Once she hears him out and takes a second to reflect on things, she switches gears to be supportive and caring. THAT is the Bess I know and love! She's still dealing with the fact she was nearly date-raped and I wonder how long the writers will play that out.
George comes off as a bit bone-headed but she at least acknowledges her stupidity in allowing peer pressure to lead her to go out with a guy she isn't into.
Nancy also has a supremely bone-headed moment, in my own opinion. So some jock tells you that normally reporters do the interviews in the locker room? You're seriously going to listen to him when you are a woman and you know most of the guys in there will be naked or partially naked? Nothing happens, but really, Nancy just deciding that "yep, if I wanna be a serious reporter, this is what I need to do" instead of, I don't know, waiting for Scooter to be done just irks me. Would it really have altered the course of the book that much to make that one change?
Also is that really a thing, where junior reporters don't get bylines for the articles they write? Seems kinda sketchy and made-up, but I'm not a journalist of any kind, so...
As with the previous book, the mystery is actually the weakest point. While we're introduced to the culprit early on, there are some weak red herrings and the case overall feels a bit slapped together. More care appears to have been put into the character interactions and extended cast.
Will doesn't come across much better, as quickly as he believes George is deliberately toying with him. But at least the book tries to justify this with an implication he has was cheated on with his last girlfriend. Not great, but understandable.
Have I mentioned that I love how Bess supports Brian once he comes out? Once she hears him out and takes a second to reflect on things, she switches gears to be supportive and caring. THAT is the Bess I know and love! She's still dealing with the fact she was nearly date-raped and I wonder how long the writers will play that out.
George comes off as a bit bone-headed but she at least acknowledges her stupidity in allowing peer pressure to lead her to go out with a guy she isn't into.
Nancy also has a supremely bone-headed moment, in my own opinion. So some jock tells you that normally reporters do the interviews in the locker room? You're seriously going to listen to him when you are a woman and you know most of the guys in there will be naked or partially naked? Nothing happens, but really, Nancy just deciding that "yep, if I wanna be a serious reporter, this is what I need to do" instead of, I don't know, waiting for Scooter to be done just irks me. Would it really have altered the course of the book that much to make that one change?
Also is that really a thing, where junior reporters don't get bylines for the articles they write? Seems kinda sketchy and made-up, but I'm not a journalist of any kind, so...
As with the previous book, the mystery is actually the weakest point. While we're introduced to the culprit early on, there are some weak red herrings and the case overall feels a bit slapped together. More care appears to have been put into the character interactions and extended cast.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2018
It was great to get reintroduced to familiar characters but this wasn’t the best of mysteries, more about boy issues that the three main characters were having. Still, it was light and fun!
April 10, 2019
I read Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys throughout my school and college days.
Nancy Drew is an amateur detective who solves crimes with occasional help from her best friends, Bess and George and, her boyfriend Ned. She also has occasional help from her father Carson Drew who runs a private law practice. From finding stolen goods to missing persons and solving mysterious happenings, Nancy is a force of nature.
Until I discovered that Carolyn Keene is a pen name for a whole bunch of ghostwriters, I used to feel confused about the slight differences in each character from books to book over the many series of Nancy Drew mysteries. I like the character of Nancy best in the original books written by Mildred Wirt Benson where Nancy is truly a character to root for – an independent and street smart girl with a penchant for trouble.
Nancy Drew is an amateur detective who solves crimes with occasional help from her best friends, Bess and George and, her boyfriend Ned. She also has occasional help from her father Carson Drew who runs a private law practice. From finding stolen goods to missing persons and solving mysterious happenings, Nancy is a force of nature.
Until I discovered that Carolyn Keene is a pen name for a whole bunch of ghostwriters, I used to feel confused about the slight differences in each character from books to book over the many series of Nancy Drew mysteries. I like the character of Nancy best in the original books written by Mildred Wirt Benson where Nancy is truly a character to root for – an independent and street smart girl with a penchant for trouble.
July 19, 2020
I still had fun rereading this as an adult. The mystery was a little thin, but mostly I'm rereading these for the drama, anyway.
June 9, 2014
Nancy and Ned... 3
This series is no where near the amazingness of the original series I fell in love with, but the books are nice, quick read nonetheless.
This series is no where near the amazingness of the original series I fell in love with, but the books are nice, quick read nonetheless.
Want to read
November 3, 2015Very different from the other series. Concentrating more on romance issues than actual cases.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews