Nancy Drew Grows Up

kw: book reviews, mysteries, parodies

I grew up reading a great many sorts of books, but I particularly remember the Tom Swift series (original, not "Jr") and the Hardy Boys. I didn't pay much attention to Nancy Drew or the older Perils of Pauline; they were "girl stuff." Forty years later, my son read at least a hundred of the newer Hardy Boys series. We used to joke that, with each book covering a few day's time, the Hardys must have had a time machine to fit all that into the year they were 17 and 18. Later he read (probably) everything of Encyclopedia Brown.

Confessions of a Teen Sleuth by Chelsea Cain brings us up to date on the life of Nancy Drew, her college years—when she roomed with Carolyn Keene, her own Watson—marriage, later life and final adventure at age 82. We get a glimpse of the destiny of the Hardys, Tom Swift Jr., E. Brown and others.

The parody is designedly self-conscious, well enough written for that to add amusement rather than detract. There was a style to writing for the teen market of the 1920s to 1950s, and Ms Cain has captured it well. A fun read.