A review by shoelessmama
Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her by Melanie Rehak

informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.75

I cut my reading teeth on old copies of Nancy Drew that had belonged to my mother and grandmother. I vividly remember noticing, even as a child, inconsistencies in the stories (Nancy's hair color, her car being called a roadster or a convertible and the color changing among other details). Because my copies were a range of originals and rewrites even Nancy's character had variation. I loved Nancy regardless. Even with these changes there is a through-line that makes Nancy Nancy. Over the years I have read more about "Carolyn Keene" and Nancy. There were many things I already knew going into this book, but this contained much more detail.

The best thing about this book was seeing the influence culture had on Nancy and Nancy on culture even while the authors strove to make Nancy timeless. Nancy is both timeless and of her time. For fans of Nancy Drew this will be an interesting commentary on the scope of the 20th century through the lens of the Nancy Drew books. I think if Nancy Drew has impacted your life you'll be able to see that, and if she hasn't this book has little to offer.