How do you Rate a
Nancy Drew Mystery Book
When it comes to
rating a Nancy Drew Book I look for the enjoyment I got out of the
book more then nit picking the story, the characters, and the plot. I
take into the account that this is a book written sometime ago
(Originally before 1960 For the one's I have read). Wording will have
changed (slang terms, unfamiliar items, or techniques that we don't
often hear), clothing, sexism is present (But it doesn't rub it in
your face with negatives, it's part of the time), relationships, and
just about everything feels a little different then nowadays because
it was a different era. It is to be expected.
You have to always
remember that these books were written as standalone with the set
purpose of capturing young audiences. They were also published in
bursts. Not one every so many months but in short bursts allowing for
people to buy them in bulk and enjoy them quickly. It's a quick read.
All the books ended leading you to know that there was another
mystery around the corner. They also decided that Nancy Drew couldn't
get married or have kids or truly progress in that way. They wanted
the viewer to stay focused on the same character structure that you
could rely on in every book with the same bunch of people for long
periods of time.
So I rate by
enjoyment. And these basic questions:
Did the story make
sense from beginning to end?
Was there anything
that felt off or something not explained?
Did the outcome
satisfy me?
By the end of the
book was I smiling? (This is very important. A book like this should
make you smile.)
If all of these are
met, then I will rate it a five because I know that young people,
preteens, teens, and kids would love it. I believe they would be even
thrilled to read through one of these books and I hope they do!! We
need more Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy readers. :)
If I am left feeling
unsure about the outcome or unsatisfied in anyway I try to figure out
why. Did the end not feel right? Was the twist so left field that I
didn't enjoy the led up to it because only a scientist saw it coming?
Was a character not as strong or as weak as I think they should have
been for a scene? This will make me give it a 4 star rating and in a
rare case a 3. You would have to really leave me feeling off to get a
3. But it happens.
As of right now a 1
or 2 star has yet to be seen for a Nancy Drew Book by me and I hope
to never give one. But there is always a chance. Maybe after I
finished Nancy Drew I should start reading The Hardy Boys! :)
-Brenda Franklin, author of The Pulse Trilogy
