The Secret Santa

Nancy Drew: Notebooks #3

by Carolyn Keene

It's a Ho! Ho! Ho-rrible trick!
Christmas is coming, and Nancy's third grade class is having a Secret Santa exchange. That means cards, candy, and a special gift for everyone. Everyone except Nancy Drew!
Is it a mistake? Is somebody just being silly or mean? Or is someone hiding something and afraid to tell the truth? One thing's for sure. Nancy's presents are gone, and all she has to unwrap is one big mystery!

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Christmas, Middle Grade, 2nd Grade

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library)]

A good, quick whodunit...but, not quite the famed sleuth as I've come to expect her.

[SPONGEBOBSQUAREPANTS]

Good for people who love mystery

[G]

Warning: This review may contain spoilers.

This was one of the good books from my childhood! I was always intrigued with mystery stories. Books that involved Nancy Drew fed my interest. I found it interesting to read books from her younger days. They may seem very childish, but hey! It is still a fast and fun read.

I liked the idea of the Secret Santa game. A short and sweet childrens' mystery book just fit for the upcoming holidays! I must start thinking of gifts to give to my assigned person. Hm.

[Miri]

Someone has stolen Nancy's Secret Santa card and lunch, now Nancy is determined to find the culprit before they steal her secret Santa present on the last special day of school before Christmas break.

[Vicky]

My first grader is just getting into reading chapter books and she loves these Nancy Drew books.

[Eleni]

this looks good

[Kimberly]

Poor Nancy. Someone stole her secret Santa gift. :(

[Sahana]

a girl steals nancy's gifts

[Natalie]

its awsome

[Brylee Ure]

You think Nancy's secret Santa is Brenda or she is the thief

[Yasuko]

2011.6.13 8118words

[matilde]

(3.5)

[Not_Your_Typical_Lannister (Leslie)]

I read this for a Christmas readathon as a children's Christmas story. I really liked it. It makes me wish I had read Nancy Drew as a kid.

[Samantha Osborne]

I love all these books

[Tabitha Reji]

Very touching story ... It brings out the right emotion of a child .

[Isabella]

Cute children's book.

[Eulene]

I remembered reading this when I was banned by my parents from reading haha. It's always fun to revisit Nancy, Bess, and George. Nancy made me love reading when I was a kid.

[Chris Comden]

The Secret Santa by Carolyn Keene
Series: Yes Nancy Drew Notebooks
Format: Softcover
Stars: 4
Recommend: Yes
Would Reread: No


I give honest reviews and all my opinions are my own.

For more of my reviews go to Heavenly High Seas Books
https://heavenlyhighseasbooks.blogspo...

[Ananya]

I love the illustrations in these books and this was a cute story and a nice ending too. Obviously I figured everything out but I enjoyed the story and the secret Santa theme.

[Madison]

i had to do this for a book repoort it was good