Sisterhood of Sleuths

by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman, Vesper Stamper (Illustrator)

Maizy always assumed she knew everything about her grandmother, Jacuzzi.  So when a box full of vintage Nancy Drew books gets left at her mom’s thrift store, Maizy is surprised to find an old photo of her grandmother and two other women tucked beneath the collection. Stranger still, when Maizy shows the photo to Jacuzzi she feigns ignorance, insisting the woman is someone else. Determined to learn the truth — and inspired by the legacy of Nancy Drew — Maizy launches her own investigation with the help of new friends, Nell and Cam. What they discover not only points to the origins of the iconic series, but uncovers a truth from the past that will lead to self-discovery in the present, connecting three generations of women. 

This intergenerational mystery filled with literary history, friendship, and family secrets delivers a captivating tribute to the world’s most famous girl detective. 

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Fiction, Audiobook, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Books About Books

325 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2022

About the author

Jennifer Chambliss Bertman is the New York Times bestselling author of the Book Scavenger series and SISTERHOOD OF SLEUTHS, forthcoming in Fall 2022. Book Scavenger was an Indie Next Top Ten pick, an Amazon Book of the Year, a Bank Street College Book of the Year, an NCTE Notable Book, and has been nominated for over twenty state award and honor lists, among other accolades. The series is being translated into more than a dozen languages. Jennifer’s debut picture book, A GOOD DEED CAN GROW, illustrated by Holly Hatam, will be published in 2023. She holds an MFA in creative writing and has worked in a variety of roles with children and in publishing. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Jennifer now lives in Colorado with her family. More information can be found about her and her books at jenniferchamblissbertman.com and bookscavenger.com.

Reviews

[Brina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will read any mystery even middle grade kids ones, especially if Nancy Drew is front and center. Full review to follow.

[Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sisterhood of Sleuths is a fantastic middle grade mystery about friendship, history, intellectual property, and film-making. It pays homage well to "Carolyn Keene" and the Nancy Drew series. The book offers well-meaning criticism for the racism and perfectly coincidental plots of the Nancy Drew books, while appreciating the power of the series to draw many readers together. If you like books with plenty of sleuthing, bike riding, and adventures, this is the one for you.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fun romp concerning Nancy Drew, friendship, and a lobster costume. I loved the portrayal of children (sixth grade) researching for and creating a school project. (If only all group projects were this good.) There were honest questions about friendships, choices, growing up and apart, and reconnecting. Maizy was a great character, humble and honest but also eager and full of gumption. (Gumptive? LOL) As a reader of Nancy Drew, and having read Melanie Rehak's Girl Sleuth, I loved those elements of the story and how everything came together. There was also not much parent-child conflict, which is fine to have in middle grade novels, but it's nice to get a break from it. Overall, a well-paced, enjoyable light read about girls dectecting clues about the most famous girl detective and the woman who created her.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was about 8, I stayed with my grandmother in Oregon along with my slightly older cousins. One of our favorite pastimes was to read the Nancy Drew books owned by a neighbor - enhanced by our yard sale and library finds of the coveted books. Therefore, I have always had a mixture of the original novels, as well as the 60s rewrites, and a couple of the late 70s as well (though I outgrew them before the Nancy Drew Files, etc.) One of my treasured copies is one that was given to my grandmother for Christmas in 1939, per the inscription. This book took me down that memory lane as the protagonists receive a box of Nancy Drew books, research the history of the books, reunite separated friends, and create a film. It's all so well done - while I got this from the library, I will definitely have to get a copy of the book for my keeper shelf! Thanks "Currently Reading" podcast for putting it on my radar.

[Melmo2610 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this fun read. As a lifelong Nancy Drew fan, it was right up my alley! Would love to see more with these characters.

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a super cute story about friendship and history, with a little mystery to top it off. I enjoyed learning about the Nancy Drew series and that the book examined how it had good and bad sides. Many young girls were inspired after seeing a female detective who was smart and capable and I think the books did a lot for strong women in literature. They were also racist, having started in the 1930's and there are problematic scenes. I felt like this was dealt with well and appreciated the honesty about the series.

I wanted the mystery around Jacuzzi to be a bit more important and exciting than it was. It was more of a starting point to get the girls together, but I still enjoyed the book.

[Susan Tunis · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. It is no secret that I became a huge Jenn Bertman fan with the publication of Book Scavenger. I loved the entire trilogy, and I've been waiting with bated breath to see what she would do for an encore.

Well, Sisterhood of Sleuths is completely and delightfully on brand! First, it's got a literary component. The story's catalyst is the mysterious delivery of a box of Nancy Drew mysteries to Maizy's mom's second-hand store. There's a clue inside one of the books that appears to be related to Maizy's grandma, but she's not talking. What starts out as a personal inquiry grows into something far larger.

Okay, so the literary component... The entire book is a tribute to the enduring legacy of Nancy Drew. I know I read a handful of them 40+ years ago, but I have to confess that I have little to no memory of them. Well, let me tell you, I spend my life completely immersed in all things bookish, and I learned quite a bit I didn't know in the pages of this book.

Also, one of the things I've always admired about the Book Scavenger series is the focus on conflict and conflict resolution. That's very much the case here as well. Let's face it, it can be hard to navigate relationships, and never more so than when we're kids. Life is tricky, and there's a lot to learn!

Finally, as with her previous series, there's a mystery element to the story. The stakes aren't quite as high, the clues aren't puzzles to solve, but you'll be invested in getting the full story. Middle grade mysteries are a regular request at the bookstore. I don't know why they're so rare, but thanks, Jenn, for writing another book for me to recommend!

And thanks so much for sharing this review copy with me! I just wrote that life can be tricky to navigate for kids. But recent events have more than illustrated that it is equally tricky to navigate as an adult. Escaping into this sweet and and inspiring tale was exactly what the doctor ordered!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sisterhood of Sleuths is an ode to Nancy Drew. The story revolves around the love and history of the ever-clever Drew. From author facts and surprises to changes to the character over the years. Along with the big question--why is Nancy Drew still so popular?

Our story begins with a mysterious box of books. No one knows who dropped them on the doorstep or why. What’s in the box? Nancy Drew books, of course! Along with more questions and clues. So our main characters, Maizy, Cam, and Nell, have a mystery to solve and a school project to finish. Can they get it all done in time?

I love a good mystery! But my favorite part of this book is the friendship. There are so many different kinds of friendship on display. Old friends and new friends tell this story, but in so many different shapes and sizes. We see instant friends, forever friends, and re-connected friends. They're all here! But friendships can change over time or in an instant too. This story shows that fact of life perfectly.

“But the thing about change is, you can’t stop it. Even if you stand still and do absolutely nothing, the seasons change around you. If it’s going to happen, you might as well keep walking and enjoy the path ahead.”

This easy to read book is full of smiles, laughs, power, and pictures that all help keep young readers engaged and reading.

Recommended. It might just have you picking up a Nancy Drew book or two too. :)

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading the Nancy Drew mysteries around age 9 or 10. I fondly remember taking four or five of the books with me anytime my family went to my grandparent's house, driving from Oregon to Arizona. One of my treasured copies has an inscription from my little sister, given to me for Christmas in 1973. Sisterhood of Sleuths was a fun read about young friends, a mysterious box of Nancy Drew mysteries, and the ups and downs of friendship at any age. My dear godmother gave me this copy for my birthday this year. Never too old for anything related to Nancy Drew!

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up I didn't have that many books. I remember having big hard cover copies of Bambi and Black Beauty when I was in kindergarten or first grade, and later Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little once I got a bit older and could read by myself. Other than those, all I can remember reading are all of the Nancy Drew books, and I mean ALL OF THEM! Numerous times. I loved them, couldn't get enough of them, devoured them! I wanted to be just like Nancy, driving a sporty car and solving mysteries with my best friends. So, this book that centered around the Nancy Drew series and had a mystery itself to unravel was definitely right up my alley. I loved learning so many interesting facts about the series that I had never heard about before. I knew that the books were first published sometime in the 30s or 40s, (it was the 30s), and that the later books had new writers that took over for Carolyn Keene. What I didn't know was that Carolyn Keene wasn't a real person! Edward Stratemeyer was the owner of the Stratemeyer Syndicate. He hired writers to write many different book series that he had come up with. These writers didn't get much of a deal for their efforts. The rights to the stories as well as the series writer's pseudonym belonged to the Syndicate. The writers earned no royalties and could not use that pseudonym on any other work outside of what they wrote for the Syndicate. When the Nancy Drew books began being published in 1930 Stratemeyer had more than 30 different series being published every year. So, who wrote the Nancy Drew series? Her name was Mildred Wirt Benson, an athlete and champion diver and the first person to receive a master's degree in journalism from the University of Iowa. During her fifty-eight years as a journalist, she published 135 children's novels and worked up until the day she died at age ninety-six. When Edward Stratemeyer passed away in in 1930 his daughter Harriet Stratemeyer took over the helm of her father's business. Harriet had Mildred continue to write the Nancy Drew books for the next twenty-three years. What really made me angry was finding out that the daughter took credit for writing all the early books when she had absolutely nothing to do with them and Mildred Wirt Benson never was recognized as the real writer until 1993, 60 years too late! But also happy in the fact that the truth is finally out and her accomplishments and contribution to the series, actually starting the series and writing the first twenty-three books is finally known.

So.......In addition to all those interesting facts I learned about the Nancy Drew series there's a great mystery that Maizy wants to solve when she finds an old picture of her grandmother and another girl inside of one of Nancy Drew books that was left in a box in front of her mother's thrift store. When Maizy shows it to her grandmother, she denies that's her in the picture and says she has no idea who the two young women are. Well, what's a girl who loves Nancy Drew going to do with that? Start snooping and digging to find the truth of course! Especially since she needs to find out why her grandmother is lying. It was fun going along with Maizy and her two friends as they tried to get to the bottom of the mystery. Turns out Maizy and her grandmother had more in common than they knew. But that's something you'll have to read the book to find the answer to. Don't want to give that part away!

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about about a box of Nancy Drew books that mysteriously showed up at the doorstep of a antiques store owned by the mother of the main character of the book; Maizy. I really liked the multigenerational aspect of the story and the clever way the author weaved the mysteries of Nancy Drew with the mystery that Maizy and her friends are trying to solve while doing a school project of how the Nancy Drew books have withstood the test of time. Fun book for us Nancy Drew fans!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 from me. 4 from Meghan. I loved the background story of Nancy Drew but Meghan and I both took off points for being too predictable.

[Leane · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Maizy is in the middle of a school project with her best friend, Izzy. They are making a film called Shellfish Holmes, and hope to have it chosen to be screened at the town art film theater if it's good enough. They even manage to get a giant lobster costume from her mother's costume and vintage clothing store, Alter Ego. When Maizy has an accident in the costume while biking to the park to film with Izzy, her niggling feeling that everything is not okay with her friendship is confirmed. Izzy, who insists on being called Isabelle, is more concerned with working with a couple of boys in class, even though they are not being true to Maizy's artistic vision. About this time, a box of Nancy Drew mysteries is dropped off at the store, and there's a thirty year old picture of Maizy's grandmother, whom she calls Jacuzzi, with two other women. Her grandmother didn't drop off the box, but the mystery of who did draws in neighbor and former friend Nell. Nell loves fashion, and was planning on doing a retrospective of women's clothing in the twentieth century, which their teacher thinks is a bit ambitious for a ten minute presentation. Maizy is thrown in to working with Nell, as well as Cam. The three start to look into the mystery of Maizy's grandmother, but also the history of the Nancy Drew series and its main author, Mildred Wirt Benson. Jacuzzi is not forthcoming with information about the picture, and denies knowing anyone named "Annette" after one of the books is found to have an inscription to that name from "Susie", which is Jacuzzi's real name. With the help of a librarian who isn't a fan of the books, a suspicious college student named Kelsey, and a professor, the girls get a lot of information. Will it be enough to solve the mystery of the box of books and to provide enough interesting facts for a good school project?

This was a fun and brilliantly concieved mystery which seamlessly incorporated the mythos of Nancy Drew in all of her complexity! It's not essential to know this fictional detective in order to enjoy this book, and I'm hoping to get fans of this author's Book Scavenger series to pick up Sisterhood of Sleuths and THEN guide them gently to the Nancy Drew Diaries. Having read Rubini's Missing Millie Benson: The Secret Case of the Nancy Drew Ghostwriter and Journalist, I knew a lot of the backstory on Benson and Drew, but also learned a lot. I had no idea that the series had been revamped in the late 1950s, partially to remove racist content. Sadly, while this made the books less horribly racist, those overtones persisted. Fascinating!

Aside from the inherent appeal of the Nancy Drew link, there's a lot of good, solid, middle grade angst going on. Izzy is terrible in the way that friends who are going through hard times are often terrible; it's not that she wants to be mean to Maizy, but Maizy is there. Maizy is also dealing with missing her older brother, who has just gone off to college, and she is worried that her grandmother (who first shows up in the story in an orthopedic book; I feel for you, Jacuzzi!) is getting older and perhaps forgetful. Maizy's parents are supportive, although busy. I wish more middle grade books would include major school projects, because they often loom large in middle school lives.

I loved Alter Ego and a shopping trip there would be fascinating. The town is small enough that the characters are able to bike around and show some autonomy, which I always enjoy.

Readers who gobbled up Souders' Coop Knows the Scoop, Johnson's The Parker Inheritance, Bowen's The Soccer Trophy Mystery, and other stories that highlight strange and interesting happenings in the past that must be explored will enjoy this fast paced and funny look at a girl who is just trying to figure out a box of books... and her life!

[Ann Braden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sisterhood of Sleuths is a fresh take on a mystery that kids will gobble right up. Characters that jump off the page, authentic friendships that twist and turn, and fun laugh-out-loud moments make this homage to Nancy Drew a classic in its own right.

I'm so excited for this book to be out in the world in October!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a cute middle grade mystery to listen to while cleaning my apartment. i think that a sort of quiet nerdy bookish type of reader would enjoy these

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maizy and Izzy have always been best friends, but this year Maizy is confused by Izzy sometimes being mean or dismissive of things they used to love doing, like making stop-motion videos. Izzy now wants to be called Isabel, and is hanging out with boys who like to hijack projects in favor of their own plans--like totally reworking the script Maizy worked so hard on for a school project. But there are other things going on in Maizy's life as well. Someone left a box of vintage Nancy Drew books at Maizy's mother's secondhand shop, and in the box was an old photo that included Maizy's grandmother Suzie--whom Maizy calls Jacuzzi. But when Jacuzzi sees the photo, she denies being in it. What's going on? Maizy decides she needs to investigate, with the help of new friends Nell and Cam, and they start filming a documentary about Nancy Drew, and the mystery of the photo.

I thought this was great--I especially loved the representation of how friendships can fracture in middle school, as peoples' interests and maturity levels diverge. A common theme in middle school books for good reason. I thought this one did a great job of affirming everyone's right to change and try new things, or to keep doing the things that make you happy even if your old friend is no longer interested. You don't have to change just because your friend does. The plot with the grandmother in the picture was a little underdeveloped, but then, the focus was really on Maizy. I also liked the exploration of the history of Nancy Drew, with the acknowledgement that early editions were often racist or otherwise questionable, and with the showing of divided opinions on the books' worth (the middle schoolers totally schooled a librarian on that one, though I would hope any school librarian would support the middle schoolers in whatever they want to read!). Overall, completely enjoyable!

[Mh Weyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

What could have been a cute story with an important message on friendship turned into a social commentary on feminism and racism/reparations, using Carolyn Keene, the beloved authoress of Nancy Drew, as the culprit.

[Kaytee Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 For younger middle graders and adults who love Nancy Drew. Such fun!

[Mrs_R_Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this title from @LittleBrownYR at TLA in Fort Worth.

I was a huge fan of the Nancy Drew mysteries when I was younger, so when I saw this ARC at TLA, I knew I had to read it.

Maizy finds a box of original Nancy Drew mysteries outside her mom's thrift store. As she unloads the box, she finds a picture of 3 women and she knows one of them is her grandmother. But her grandmother (Jacuzzi) insists it is not her in the photo. With the help of an old friend (Nell) and a new one (Cam), Maizy sets out to figure out the mystery of where the books came from, and who is in the photo while they also work on a class project about Nancy Drew.

I really enjoyed Sisterhood of Sleuths by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman The book is about friendships (old, new & changing), family secrets, and Nancy Drew. As the girls work on their project they find out more about the people who wrote the Nancy Drew books and why they have remained popular for almost 100 years. With humor and heart, the author walks Maizy through friendship and the many ways it can change and evolve.

This is a great one for your middle and intermediate school students.

[Beth Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been looking forward to this book for months and it was just fantastic! (More of a 4/4.5 stars for me, but absolutely 5 for the target audience!)

Sisterhood of Sleuths is a standalone mystery by the author of the Book Scavenger series (which we loved!). This book heavily features the Nancy Drew books, but you don't need any knowledge of Nancy to learn about her along with the characters.

There are fun, full-page illustrations throughout (plus a map in the front!), and this is a true middle grade, realistically depicting friendship troubles, a mystery that isn't scary, and clever moments that will make young readers laugh out loud.

I really loved that this book highlights the staying power of Nancy Drew after nearly 100 years. The author's note at the end was full of her research, much of which she incorporated into the plot of the book. And it was fun to see references to the book Girl Sleuth by Melanie Rehak, which I also read several years ago.

If you haven't read anything by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman, I highly recommend all of her books; they are some of my very favorite middle grade mysteries!

[Histrio · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Sisterhood of Sleuths was... OK. Which was sad because I read the Book Scavenger series and really liked it. This was a lot less exciting for someone significantly older than the intended age range.

Please don't get me wrong. I am not saying this is a bad book! It was a logical plot and well written. It just doesn't appeal to such a broad age range.

Also, this book is about the joy of Nancy Drew. Which is fine, except that I have never read any Nancy Drew and so the possible nostalgia is completely lost on me.

If you like Nancy Drew and would like a low-stakes book about three girls sharing the love of Nancy Drew - by all means read this! If you are looking for the next Book Scavenger this is, unfortunately, not it.

[Beth Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this middle grade read about friendship and Nancy Drew. Maizy is in sixth grade, and she enjoys creating stories and making documents. Her friend Isabelle is changing her interests, most notably she’s interested in boys more than Maizy. A little lost after their friendship ends, Maizy meets up with some other creatives and embarks on creating a documentary about a family mystery. Her mother owns a secondhand store, and a box of Nancy Drew books with an inscription from what seems like her grandmother to an old friend and a picture of someone who looks like her grandmother when she was younger with two other women. Maizy’s grandmother says it isn’t her.
Fun mystery, and I really enjoyed the scene with the professor about Nancy Drew. I love books where you learn new things and new perspectives.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful! I can't believe Nancy Drew is 92-years-old. If you loved Nancy Drew mysteries growing up, you have to read this middle-grade novel. I will be gushing about this one for awhile. Maizy finds a box of old Nancy Drew books on the doorstep of her mom's store with a picture of what appears to be her grandmother, Jacuzzi with two other women. As Maizy deals with the changes sixth grade brings to her friendships, she is also trying to solve the mystery of the abandoned books. I LOVED it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 overall.

[Alissa J. Zavalianos · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

This book was so cute! I loved most everything about it!

Truly, this story encapsulates all the childlike wonder and whimsy of a good mystery. Friendship, sleuthing, navigating middle school dynamics, strong family bonds, literally so many wonderful moments! I truly adored this book!

All the connections and focus on Nancy Drew were some of my favorite aspects too. As an avid Nancy Drew reader, I appreciated the research and detail and accuracy.

I also loved how Maizy’s family was so tight knit and sweet. The mom was a little hard to read, the dad was quirky, and the brother was so kind. I loved them!

Overall, such a great story, and I’m so glad I read it!

[Peggy Tomzik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the intended audience for this book is middle schoolers, a reader of any age will enjoy this story, especially if you have a special place in your heart for Nancy Drew. Maizy's struggles with a shift in friendships and her perspectives with coping resonant with any age. The Nancy Drew theme will appeal to fans of all ages. This is a sweet story with a lovely ending.

[Rachel Kohlbrenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book that is perfect for young middle grade readers who enjoy a mystery, coming of age and friendship story! I love how she wove the real history of Nancy Drew into the storyline as well. I am excited to share this book with my daughter

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable children’s fiction novel which also includes the history of the Nancy Drew books. I never read any Nancy Drew (I was more interested in horse stories), but I liked learning about how Nancy Drew and Carolyn Keene came to be. Perfect for any reader.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

if this was about a different book series then i'd probably give it a 3.5 but it was about nancy drew so I loved this extra extra extra (but such a sweet story either way)

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story. The author did a great job of weaving in facts about the creation of Nancy Drew and the real Carolyn Keene. It made me want to learn more about Mildred Wirt Bensen.