Super Sleuths! Vol. 2

Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, Super Sleuths! #2

by Carolyn Keene, Franklin W. Dixon, Paul Frame (Illustrator)

The three amateur detectives investigate a series of mysterious gifts, a stolen treasure chest, and other mysteries

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

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is kind of enjoyable to read, just as an artifact of the '80s, when bank employees could embezzle millions by using a single computer password (and completely cover up their trail with a single command), remote terminals used literal telephones, people could just walk off airplanes, and Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys were shocked by the very idea of a terrorist. Just might beat The Bluebeard Room for sheer '80s dated-ness.

[Tapasya Marathe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice mystery book for young new readers

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun bedtime read with the girls. I was really impressed with how Nancy Drew more than held her own in each story; the authors did a great job combining the three characters so that no one was marginalized. The writing is OK – a lot of cliche and adverbs, but still manages to move the stories along at a good pace that kept the kids engrossed. For an adult, the plot twists were easy to see coming and much of the stories were unrealistic, but for kids it's the perfect balance of exciting and safe – and the stories are written for kids, after all.

[Eric Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book with great, little stories! My least favorite stories however would have to be Purge and Danger In The Air. Both stories were pretty boring and I felt Nancy was forced into those two, and didn't get a big part. There were also continuity errors, like for example, one story celebrates Nancy's 19th birthday, and one story mentions Nancy going back to school. But all in all this was a great book with fun adventurous stories that keeps readers turning the pages, and it deserves 4 stars.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

REALLY SUPER BOOK!
MUST BE READ!