Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The cover art and typography are really pretty, and will draw kids in - because covers matter! This was an okay mystery. It had a Scooby Doo vibe and I was almost expecting someone to jump out at the end and say "I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for you meddling kids!"
At first I was thinking that it's a plus that Nancy Drew has been updated for a new generation. There are smartphones, WiFi, and other tech details that will ring true for today's kids. Plus the author made an effort to write a more diverse cast of characters, and I appreciated that and think it's important to update/correct outmoded social norms.
But I think there's a charm to the vintage-ness of the originals. I read [b:The Secret of the Old Clock|32979|The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew, #1)|Carolyn Keene|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1351534678s/32979.jpg|151480] within the past year or two, and I enjoyed it more than this one. I'm also working on [b:The Gatehouse Mystery|183106|The Gatehouse Mystery (Trixie Belden #3)|Julie Campbell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388204524s/183106.jpg|1042858] (part of the Trixie Belden series, which I enjoyed as a kid) and I kinda like the old timey feel.
As a result, I'm torn about which series I'd recommend. Guess I'll have to describe the differences and then ask kids which they would prefer, because I'm sure there are young readers who would prefer the updates and some who would prefer the originals.
At first I was thinking that it's a plus that Nancy Drew has been updated for a new generation. There are smartphones, WiFi, and other tech details that will ring true for today's kids. Plus the author made an effort to write a more diverse cast of characters, and I appreciated that and think it's important to update/correct outmoded social norms.
But I think there's a charm to the vintage-ness of the originals. I read [b:The Secret of the Old Clock|32979|The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew, #1)|Carolyn Keene|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1351534678s/32979.jpg|151480] within the past year or two, and I enjoyed it more than this one. I'm also working on [b:The Gatehouse Mystery|183106|The Gatehouse Mystery (Trixie Belden #3)|Julie Campbell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388204524s/183106.jpg|1042858] (part of the Trixie Belden series, which I enjoyed as a kid) and I kinda like the old timey feel.
As a result, I'm torn about which series I'd recommend. Guess I'll have to describe the differences and then ask kids which they would prefer, because I'm sure there are young readers who would prefer the updates and some who would prefer the originals.
The set up seemed like the start to a Scooby Doo mystery and that was actually a good thing. The ghostly appearances were less elaborate than what the Scooby Gang would have come across. But ultimately everything makes sense.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2019/comments_05/ghost_of_grey_fox_inn.html
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2019/comments_05/ghost_of_grey_fox_inn.html
I enjoyed how cool the house/ inn was. I guessed how the person/people were getting around within the inn, and I was right. That's so cool! The story was also mostly believable, especially the relationships that were displayed/explained. It was cute with some drama at the end, of course. Weddings, small town, and mystery made for an interesting adventure.