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sqeeker's review against another edition
3.0
- Another fun and satisfying Nancy Drew mystery!
- I like that Nancy Drew went all western in this story. It was a western treasure hunt! Great stuff! I love that each Nancy Drew is so different and unique. The hunt for an outlaw's treasure was cool, and I wish there had been more back story on Valentine.
- A girl named George?
- Nancy knows a lot of people! She has friends everywhere! I guess it is no surprise. She is very polite and kind, and I would like to be her friend.
- I feel like a character is more heroic and macho when they are on a horse. It might be just me, but I liked that Nancy was an experienced rider.
- The phantom horse was a fun element to the mystery, and I liked how Nancy and Chief figured out how the phantom horse thing was pulled off.
- Nancy is so clever and lucky! She can put clues together, and determine what others will do, and I also think she is incredibly lucky!
- When reading these books, you can't let your eyes glaze over or zone out. Things happen fast, and I sometimes had to go back and read a couple paragraphs. Some important event will occur, and it takes place in one or two paragraphs. The story moves fast! I like that there is no fluff.
- I like that Nancy Drew went all western in this story. It was a western treasure hunt! Great stuff! I love that each Nancy Drew is so different and unique. The hunt for an outlaw's treasure was cool, and I wish there had been more back story on Valentine.
- A girl named George?
- Nancy knows a lot of people! She has friends everywhere! I guess it is no surprise. She is very polite and kind, and I would like to be her friend.
- I feel like a character is more heroic and macho when they are on a horse. It might be just me, but I liked that Nancy was an experienced rider.
- The phantom horse was a fun element to the mystery, and I liked how Nancy and Chief figured out how the phantom horse thing was pulled off.
- Nancy is so clever and lucky! She can put clues together, and determine what others will do, and I also think she is incredibly lucky!
- When reading these books, you can't let your eyes glaze over or zone out. Things happen fast, and I sometimes had to go back and read a couple paragraphs. Some important event will occur, and it takes place in one or two paragraphs. The story moves fast! I like that there is no fluff.
mainebookworm22's review against another edition
4.0
What a fun read!!! We finally get to meet Bess and George in this story. The girls invite Nancy to go wtih them to their Aunt and Uncle's new ranch in Arizona. Of course, a mystery develops that Nancy has to help solve. After lots of action and cliff hanger endings, Nancy saves the day and solves the mysteries. Having so much fun revisiting one of these stories each month.
cauchemarlena's review against another edition
5.0
Kui eelmistes raamatutes tulevad müsteeriumid Nancy juurde koju kätte ja on River Heightsi vahetus läheduses, siis seekord läheb teismeline detektiiv Phoenixisse Arizonases. Ta läheb külla oma sõpradele Bessile ja George'ile.
Külaskäigu ajal aitab ta leida röövitud mehe ja lahendab fantoomhobusega seotud müsteeriumi. Lisaks on asjasse segatud ka peidetud varandus.
Mulle meeldis see raamat, kuna Nancy oli siin iseseisvam kui eelmistes raamatutes ega vajanud oma isa ega majahoidja abi. Samuti polnud see nii lapsik ja ei pannud oma kummaliste lausetega silmi pööritama.
Praeguse seisuga veel kindlasti jätkan selle sarjaga!
kallania's review against another edition
5.0
For those of you not in the know the original stories were edited and revised before being republished (to better fit with the times)... a few of these stories were almost entirely rewritten with stories that barely resemble the originals. These are books 2, 4, 5, 11, 12, 14, 17, and 18. The version can be determined by how many chapters the book has; the original has 25 chapters while the revised only have 20.
1965 Revised: Solvable. In this version the mystery revolves around the phantom stallion and the legend that is Dirk Valentine. A beautifully told story of forbidden romance and outlaws. This is my absolute favorite story of all of the Nancy Drew books (all series included). 96/100
Original: Solvable. The mystery takes place at the cousins (Bess and George's) aunts ranch in Arizona. Alice, Bess and George's cousin, travels alongside them to the ranch with a special request of Nancy; to find the father she is sure didn't abandon her. 92/100
Although I am a purist and believe a book should be read how it was originally written, if possible, I admit that I am biased from having grown up with the 1965 story. It's such a beautiful story that the original that shares small similarities with the revised pales in comparison. And it almost hurts to type that sentence; that the revised is better.. but both stories are worth your time. I will warn you not to read them back to back though as it will ruin one of them.
1965 Revised: Solvable. In this version the mystery revolves around the phantom stallion and the legend that is Dirk Valentine. A beautifully told story of forbidden romance and outlaws. This is my absolute favorite story of all of the Nancy Drew books (all series included). 96/100
Original: Solvable. The mystery takes place at the cousins (Bess and George's) aunts ranch in Arizona. Alice, Bess and George's cousin, travels alongside them to the ranch with a special request of Nancy; to find the father she is sure didn't abandon her. 92/100
Although I am a purist and believe a book should be read how it was originally written, if possible, I admit that I am biased from having grown up with the 1965 story. It's such a beautiful story that the original that shares small similarities with the revised pales in comparison. And it almost hurts to type that sentence; that the revised is better.. but both stories are worth your time. I will warn you not to read them back to back though as it will ruin one of them.
bplayfuli's review against another edition
3.0
I grew up mostly reading the original editions of these books and I am just not a fan of the current editions. The older books were longer and more detailed. I've also noticed that some plots have been changed in the modern editions and again, the older versions were better in most cases. I think for this particular book, the new version is better, as the original didn't have much of a mystery. I do cringe when Nancy and Co get their cultural appropriation on. It's still not as racist as some of the original stories. Looking at you, Mystery at Lilac Inn.
marie_gg's review against another edition
3.0
http://mariesbookgarden.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-secret-of-shadow-ranch-my-first.html
Can you believe that I've never read a Nancy Drew book? This was my first! I read it because of a delightful little second grader--daughter of a close friend--who's obsessed with them at the moment.
I'm glad to be able to say I have read Nancy Drew--she was a plucky detective but she was awfully concerned with her looks and her friend's weight! But I understand that many of the original Nancy Drew books were rewritten in the 1950s to make her more feminine. I'd love to read the actual original story written in the 1930s. I understand that this book diverts from the usual Nancy Drew template because it's set in the desert, away from her home.
The other class "girl" novels I haven't read are Anne of Green Gables--maybe that's a goal for later in the year. I've been told by many that I would like them.
I gave my little friend Grace a copy of the first two "Boys Against Girls" books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, which I enjoyed with my boys. We'll see what she has to say about those!
Can you believe that I've never read a Nancy Drew book? This was my first! I read it because of a delightful little second grader--daughter of a close friend--who's obsessed with them at the moment.
I'm glad to be able to say I have read Nancy Drew--she was a plucky detective but she was awfully concerned with her looks and her friend's weight! But I understand that many of the original Nancy Drew books were rewritten in the 1950s to make her more feminine. I'd love to read the actual original story written in the 1930s. I understand that this book diverts from the usual Nancy Drew template because it's set in the desert, away from her home.
The other class "girl" novels I haven't read are Anne of Green Gables--maybe that's a goal for later in the year. I've been told by many that I would like them.
I gave my little friend Grace a copy of the first two "Boys Against Girls" books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, which I enjoyed with my boys. We'll see what she has to say about those!
marenkae's review against another edition
3.0
Last time I read this in 2012 I gave it 4 stars but I'm a bit torn now. I think it's probably more of a 3.5.
jojobear_'s review against another edition
5.0
i really enjoyed it! the only thing was the very end of the book felt a little rushed but overall i liked the book