Nancy Drew

Over the last few weeks, I've been reading bedtime stories to Olivia from the Nancy Drew mystery novel series.

For those who didn't grow up with this series of girl's books (or the boy's equivalent, The Hardy Boys),  Nancy Drew is a young woman who always seems to find herself in the middle of mysteries which she is able to solve through her intellect, investigative skills and courage.  She's a very good role model for young girls and the series is one of the most lasting and beloved set of books ever published.

Olivia's aunt Shannon has over the years been giving Nancy Drew books to Olivia for her Birthday's, Christmas etc. to build up her collection in anticipation of her someday learning to read and falling in love with the stories, just as Shannon and her sisters did when they were growing up.  Although the books have been updated and revised a few times, the ones Shannon has been purchasing were reproductions of the original edition, which was first published in the 1930's.  So many of the things Nancy does, along with the objects and phrases Nancy uses are from that long-ago era.

One funny comment Olivia made came when we were reading the second book in the series, The Hidden Staircase.  In the book, Nancy is at a house without electricity and a phone line.  She needed to contact her father and so drove into town to place a phone call to her house to see if he had arrived.

After reading that passage, Olivia's face looked puzzled.  "Why didn't she just use her cell phone?" Olivia asked.