Thomas F. (hardtack) -
I still read YA books, and Gary Paulsen's are some of my favorites. So after reading some heavy tomes, I decided to read these three Nancy Drew mysteries.
Nancy Drew goes way back. According to Wikipedia there were 175 Nancy Drew mysteries written between 1930 and 2003. But the name "Carolyn Keene" was used by all the different authors.
I have to admit reading only "The Wrong Track" in this three-story volume, as I found it disappointing. Hopefully that 1991 author only wrote a few Nancy Drew stories, as the story had plenty of flaws.
Here are a just a few :
Nancy needs to solve a mystery at a resort close to home. She decides to go undercover. Here is the text from the book: "Instead of Nancy Drew, teen detective, she was going to the resort as Nancy Drew, teen reporter..." Boy, I bet that will fool them. In fact, Nancy remarks a few chapters later that she thinks her undercover role may have been exposed. Gee, really? And the worst part was her father not only let her do this, he helped set up her undercover role with a sports magazine. Obviously, not only does her father not care about her safety, but he lets her do whatever she wants.
While at the resort, Nancy, sometimes alone and sometimes with her friends, breaks into people's rooms and offices and goes through all the drawers and files, sometimes taking papers. Is that something you want to teach your YAs as being okay? Fine! Let them start with your private papers. In addition, these are crimes.
Spoiler Alert: When Nancy finally figures out who has been trying to kill her, she receives a note from that person asking her to meet on a distant ski trail. Nancy knows that is dangerous, but she wants "to confront her suspect." Of course, just before her death, the "cavalry" unexpectedly arrives to save Nancy. You don't want your YAs to think taking chances like this are okay. Not in this day and age.
Yes, I know it is just a novel, But what lessons do you want your YAs to come away with after reading this?
Nancy Drew goes way back. According to Wikipedia there were 175 Nancy Drew mysteries written between 1930 and 2003. But the name "Carolyn Keene" was used by all the different authors.
I have to admit reading only "The Wrong Track" in this three-story volume, as I found it disappointing. Hopefully that 1991 author only wrote a few Nancy Drew stories, as the story had plenty of flaws.
Here are a just a few :
Nancy needs to solve a mystery at a resort close to home. She decides to go undercover. Here is the text from the book: "Instead of Nancy Drew, teen detective, she was going to the resort as Nancy Drew, teen reporter..." Boy, I bet that will fool them. In fact, Nancy remarks a few chapters later that she thinks her undercover role may have been exposed. Gee, really? And the worst part was her father not only let her do this, he helped set up her undercover role with a sports magazine. Obviously, not only does her father not care about her safety, but he lets her do whatever she wants.
While at the resort, Nancy, sometimes alone and sometimes with her friends, breaks into people's rooms and offices and goes through all the drawers and files, sometimes taking papers. Is that something you want to teach your YAs as being okay? Fine! Let them start with your private papers. In addition, these are crimes.
Spoiler Alert: When Nancy finally figures out who has been trying to kill her, she receives a note from that person asking her to meet on a distant ski trail. Nancy knows that is dangerous, but she wants "to confront her suspect." Of course, just before her death, the "cavalry" unexpectedly arrives to save Nancy. You don't want your YAs to think taking chances like this are okay. Not in this day and age.
Yes, I know it is just a novel, But what lessons do you want your YAs to come away with after reading this?
