The Secret of the Old Clock

Since this is my first blog posting about a book, I decided to write about one of the newest books on the market, The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene.  I'm just joking, it's not a new book but it is the book I'm writing about today.

The Secret of the Old Clock is the first book in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series.  Surprisingly, I had never read a Nancy Drew or a Hardy Boys book before.  My dad had encouraged me to read them when I was a kid and his approval was their kiss of death. I love my dad, but his book ideas weren't impressive.  My mom took me to book shops and libraries.  In all honesty, if my mother had recommended them I probably would have read them.  With that said, I need to apologize to my dad.  "Dad, I should have read these books sooner."

Now back to the point, The Secret of the Old Clock starring Nancy Drew is a good book.  Even though the book is 80 + years old, with somewhat hokey dialogue, this mystery seemed timeless. There were characters you rooted for: Nancy, her dad, little Judy, and the Hoover sisters; and characters you rooted against: the whole Topham family. The mystery kept you wondering, was there a second will that spread
Josiah Crowley's wealth out among multiple families, or was the will that gave everything to the Tophams the only will?  Nancy's determination to find the second will and help the needy families connected to Josiah Crowley that she met throughout the book made you root for and like her.  Finally, Nancy faced down danger on multiple occasions. With all that, my one year old daughter will be reading this book in 10 years and her children will be reading it once they exist.

I would recommend this book.  It is a fun mystery.   It is available in my school library and can be purchased from Amazon.com.

Reading level: Slightly above average fifth grade reader

Genre: Mystery