Nine critical essays contribute to the accelerating academic investigation into girls' fiction as mechanics of gender formation in the 20th century. Among the series they discuss are Ann of Green Gables, Isabel Carleton, Linda Lane, Betsy-Tacy, and several focusing on automobiles, as well as Nancy herself. They also consider Girl Scouts and related organizations and books furthering the effort of World War II. No personal recollections are included. Paper edition (unseen), $18.95. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

"This collection of essays focuses on the girl sleuth, made famous by Nancy Drew but also characterized by other detectives like Cherry Ames, Trixie Belden, Linda Carlton, and, in today's world, by Veronica Mars and Hermione Granger. Solving mysteries is what each of the essayists strives to do, examining the conundrums these sleuths have left in their wake"--Provided by publisher.

Hardcover edition originally published 2018.

Nancy can hardly believe it. While visiting an amusement park owned by the world-famous Royal Chocolates Company, her friend Bess tears open a million-dollar candy wrapper in a contest. But when they go to collect, they’re told that someone else has won. And then they’re accused of tampering with the winning wrapper! Something is rotten in chocolatetown. The proof comes when Nancy and her friends are treated to a near-death experience in the park’s animal safari. Someone’s pulling a million-dollar swindle, and getting Nancy and her friends out of the way seems to be the icing on the cake. If Nancy isn’t careful, she just might learn the real meaning of “Death by Chocolate.”

The brainchild of children's book mogul Edward Stratemeyer, Nancy Drew was brought to life by two women. In a century- spanning story Rehak traces their roles--and Nancy's--in forging the modern American woman.

Nancy and her friends need more than book smarts to get to the bottom of a literary mystery in this fourth book of the Nancy Drew Diaries, a new take on the classic series. A rash of crimes in a neighboring town—a blazing fire at a bookstore, a boat that sinks in the harbor, and a valuable dog’s dognapping—are eerily similar to the plots from famous mystery writer Lacey O’Brien’s popular books. So who’s behind the crimes? Could it be Lacey looking for publicity? One of Lacey’s superfans? Or maybe it’s Paige Samuels, owner of the bookstore that burned. Nancy, Bess, and George will have to read between the lines as they dig deep into a dangerous mystery.