love 2 read? book reviews, series lists & more

ICE by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

2006-09-18T00:03:00.000-07:00

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is the author of the alice series. She is very talented and I have to say this is my favorite book I've read lately. So read it! That's all and you're hott...
bYEE

NEWWWWWW!

2006-09-12T05:50:00.001-07:00

I got a new book. It's called Blister. Read it.

One more thing: it's sequal is now out and it's called, Kiss Me Tomorrow

WEll bYe!!

New Stuff 4 U

2006-04-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

Please take a look at my brand new site

I promise you'll enjoy it!

bye 4 now :)

Queen Duckee!

2006-04-03T13:49:00.000-07:00

Ducks rule! At least they do in my world. 2 bad if you don't think so.

Today I am going to review something great: MYSTERY... of Nancy Drew. What is the history of Nancy Drew? If you've ever wanted to know, read this NOW! (Or 4ever hold your peace.)

The History of the Famous Girl Sleuth: by Amy S.
In 1930, Edward Stratemeyer thought up the idea of spunky, independent, outgoing Nancy Drew. He asked a writer, Mildred Wirt (later Benson), to write the series. There never was a Carolyn Keene.

A year later, Edward Stratemeyer died, leaving the business to his two daughters. They kept it up well, but after a while, one sister left, leaving the other to run the business. She was Harriet Adams.

Harriet Adams ran the company, Stratemeyer Sindicate, successfully for a very long time. She kept the series going... but she didn't keep the author around for the duration of the series. She thought that the way Ms. Wirt made Nancy was too spunky, and that Nancy should settle down a bit. When Adams first took control of the syndicate, she politely asked Wirt to tone it down a little. However, after a few years, she was becoming what some might call dictatorial. She declined whole parts of books, and, although at the time she herself didn't actually write them, she made strict outlines for Wirt to follow.

After awhle, when the company was struggling, Adams cut the pay from $125/ book to $75/book. Although most of the writers accepted this, Wirt did not think it was worth it. She left after having written 23 books. Other authors took over.

In the late 1950's, sales of the series was decreasing, supposedly due to the shorter attention span of children caused by TV's. Adams decided to give the books a total makeover. Rewriting whole parts of books, she gave Nancy a whole new feel. In some books, there had been racial discrimination; this was cut out of the books when Adams was re-making Nancy Drew.

After many years, in the 1980's, the syndicare finally could hold out no longer. After a series of complicated legal cases involving the rights to publishing the books, the syndicate closed up, and control of the series was handed over to Simon & Scheuster.

However, despite all the changes, Nancy Drew fans still love the books, proving that Nancy Drew is a timeless classic.

So the moral of the story is: Duckees rule! And I'm Queen Duckee :)

I found a funny blog

2006-03-22T13:07:00.000-08:00

Hey! I found a funny blog: http://speakingofwhich02.blogspot.com/
You should look at it.

Besides that, here is a link to my brother's blog: gamecrazysean.blogspot.com I don't know why I'm advertising his blog; he said he'd get on mine and add "something." I don't trust him...

I have once again updated my site, nancydrew.scriptmania.com You should check it out. On my site there is a link to email me if you have any questions about Nancy Drew.

So anyway, my brother is stupid... So what else is new?

Amy

What did I do today?

2006-03-19T15:03:00.000-08:00

To explain what I did today I have to explain what I did last night. I went a girls sleepover at my church, and didn't go to sleep till 3 a.m. I am pooped.

At eight, my pastor knocked VERY loudly on the door, and shouted, "Wake up! Time to wake up, girls! Wake-up time! Wake up!" GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! I wanted to skin him alive so bad... but I didn't. I opened my eyes (sort of) and grumbled about the wake up call.

Somehow I have to make this tie in with books, so I'll say that my friend Mary was reading a book from 12 on, and was bored. That makes it all right now.

And tonight, I still have to baby-sit till nine!

I can't be more tired, but I will be!

Amy (ZZZzzzz)

P.S. I just remembered, today is the 10th blog anniversary. Hooray!

UPDATE!!!!!

2006-03-17T19:58:00.000-08:00

Hi!

I have updated my website, www.nancydrew.scriptmania.com
It has 3 new book reviews on it, and some new pictures.

Besides that, I would like to tell you about a new book.
It's called "Kristy's Great Idea." Yeah, I am talking about the one from the 80's Babysitter's Club. But this is actually the graphic novel version celebrating the 20th anniversary of the series. I haven't read it myself, but I hear it's pretty good(based on the opinion of one reviewer I read). Anyway, just thought you might want to hear that.

Right now, the best series, I think, is Nancy Drew. I was totally in into the Babysitter's Club last year, but I'm not so much anymore. Still, I check out what's new with it once in awhile still.

Remember, please check out my new website

Amy ---LOOK at it!!!

Sorry I Took So Long to Write!

2006-03-16T20:34:00.001-08:00

Hi!

I know I haven't publlished a new post in a long time, so get off my case already, okay? (Just kidding.)

I wanted to tell you about a few cool sites that I've discovered, and about my new website, www.nancydrew.scriptmania.com

So here are the other links:
www.nancydrewsleuths.com
www.ndsleuth.com
http://www.nancydrewsleuth.com/drewblog.html

And now, I will talk about my new website, www.nancydrew.scriptmania.com
It's part of the reason why I don't have much to say today-- you'll have to go there to find out what I was going to say. But I'll tell you about it. It has an article on the history of Nancy Drew, an article regarding the biography of Mildred Wirt Benson, a list with the original publishing dates of the Nancy Drew books, a photo page, a guestbook, a coarkboard, a links page, a shopping page, a whats new page, etc. Basically, it's everything you ever wanted to know about Nancy Drew. And trust me, if you didn't find what you wanted to know on my site, you'll find it on one of the links. For real,it's like a Nancy Drew encyclopedia. Check it out! You'll like it.

Also, a MAJOR NEWSFLASH: My brother finally updated his blog seven months later: it's www.gamecrazysean.blogspot.com

Well, that's about it for now.

Amy(:

Mildred Augustine Wirt Benson

2005-12-01T20:02:00.000-08:00

Most people know her as Carolyn Keene, the author of the Nancy Drew books. But the truth is that that is a pseudonym used by her and as many as five others. Born in 1905, she always loved writing and sold her first story, "The Courtesy," at age 12, making $2.50. She was always a tomboy, and liked sports, outdoors, and hated playing with dolls. In fact, she shaped the character Nancy Drew after herself: independent, outgoing, brave, and strong. But, wanting Nancy to be even better, she gave Nancy what she thought she herself didn't have; good looks, admiration and respect, and lots of dates.

Apparently she agreed with her eager readers, "The girls were ripe for a change in literature. They were way overdue for a good entertaining story that broke away from the old style of writing. I think Nancy Drew was the character the girls were waiting for." And so it was. Nancy Drew books were snapped up like candy, and fans saw something they had never seen before: a girl was who independent, kind, new, old-fashioned, a little bit naughty, a little bit nice, a little sassy, and not afraid to stand up to adults, even criminals for what was right. It seemed that at times Nancy was more boy than girl... and that girls still loved Nancy that way, if not loving her for it.

Mildred wrote over 100 books during her long career, and enjoyed doing it. After stopping writing of the Nancy Drew series on book 23, she went on to continue working as a journalist for 58 years. She was the first woman to graduate from Iowa University with a major in journalism in 1927. When she was in her sixties, she became a licensed commercial and private pilot.

Sadly, on May 28th 2002, she died of lung cancer at the hospital in Toledo, Ohio. She was 96.

P.S. 3/15/06: Please check out my new website at www.nancydrew.scriptmania.com
I update it all the time, and you'll see tons of cool stuff on there. Have fun! (and I promise I'll post a new blog entry soon!)

What's New With You?

2005-09-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

Here's a book coming out soon:

A Dog's life: The Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin

And now presenting a review, hooray.

Trade Wind Danger #13 in Nancy Drew girl detective series. Here's what it says on the back cover:

"San Francisco has tons to offer tourists like Bess, George, and me. Fresh crabs, cable cars, hikes-and stalkers! Well, maybe stalkers is a little bit harsh, but this older couple, Ed and Harriet, keeps popping up everywhere.

"Coincidental or not, Ed and Harriet's appearances are smelling fishier than San Francisco Bay to me. So the investigation begins. But who knew it'd lead to more sleuthing- in Hawaii?"

This is a great book! Even though I liked Stop the Clock a little better, this book still was a great read. I'd give it four stars. ****

Have a great beginning of the school year! I hope your first day wasn't bad.

Amy.

Summer reading list

2005-08-30T17:20:00.000-07:00

Some books you should read as summer is ending...

I actually don't have a lot of time right now. (My computer's down and I'm on a library computer.) But here's a quick list.

1. Beyond the Valley of Thorns by Patrick Carman. (August 2005.)
2. Any Baby-sitters Club book you can get your hands on.
3. My blog. (okay, it's not actually a book, but I have to promote... right?)
4. Any Amazing Days of Abby Hayes book.
5. A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'engle. (by the way, you should check out http://madeleinelengle.com.)

And can I give you some friendly end-of-summer advice? Catch up with an old friend. Yes. It's been a long time, so why not? (Uh, actually, I should take my own advice. I haven't spoken to a friend for almost three weeks. So yeah, maybe I'm giving you this advice from a guilty conscience. But who cares? It's still good advice.)

Anyway, don't forget to check out my brother's blog. It's http://gamecrazysean.blogspot.com

See ya... soon?
Amy

Question week and odds an' ends

2005-08-06T18:29:00.000-07:00

Announcement~

This is question week. You can send in any questions about any books that you have, and I'll personally answer each and every one in my next blog. There will be one top featured question and after that, any others. There are, however, a few things I need to say: One, no foul language; Two, no offensive books, please; And three, only kids or young adults books. This is a great oppurtunity, so DON'T miss it! If you do, well, heck, I'll just have to make up my OWN questions!

I really have no other important things to write this week, so what I have below is really is really just nonsense; read it anyway!

#1. Based on genetics, your hair can only grow to a certain length; not everybody can have hair down to their heels!

#2. Reading with the dim lighting damages your eyes. You knew that. But try this-- it can actually change the physical shape of your eyes!

#3. Wearing all one color can make an optical ollusion, and can make short people look taller.

#4. Scrunchies are OUT! (You knew that one too... right? ... I hope...)

#5. You'll never need to know this stuff, so quit wasting your time reading it! So long!

Links:

http://gamecrazysean.blogspot.com (My brother's blog).
http://scholastic.com/annmartin (My favorite author).
http://lookcute.blogspot.com (My other blog. It's about fashion- for girls).
http://girlslife.com (A fun magazine).
http://briomag.com (My fave mag).

By the way, these are abstract links; they have nothing to do with this particular blog. They're some of my favorite sites, though. Anyway, I think you'll like them! Bye!

book reviews

2005-08-01T10:04:00.000-07:00

Books-

Nancy Drew girl detective series

websites connected to this: simonsayskids.com and nancydrewsleuth.com/asknancy.html

***** 5 stars!!! Great books, as all Nancy Drew books are. I especially like this new series, though. It is more up-to-date than any others. For example, in this series, Nancy has a blue hybrid car, a cell phone, and a new modern attitude towards her circumstances. George, who previously was just a tomboy (yuck! I hate that word!), is now a computer geek, who can't seem to save her money, since she buys so many things like ipods and digital cameras. George also is able to help Nancy on her cases buy hacking into computer database files of the FBI and stuff like that, even though they have terrific firewalls. Bess, George's cousin, is pretty much the same as always, except that she now is a mechanics expert and wood expert. She can carve, fix cars, and twist screws, you name it. This comes in "handy" (please don't mind the pun) on many of Nancy's cases. They make a great friendship as different as they all are. And while there is new stuff in these books, the authors and editors haven't lost sight of the fact that Nancy Drew fans such as myself still like a good mystery. They've done a good job.

Next book is coming out in September, and the last book that came out was in July, called Stop the Clock. Check these books out! You'll be gald you did.

P.S. Please take a look at my brother's blog at gamecrazysean.blogspot.com He hasn't posted anything yet (I just set it up for him this morning), but he will by the end of today, I'm sure. So take a look.

In the Spotlight: The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes

2005-07-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

In the Spotlight: The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes

I love this series. It is great and totally awesome! The most recent book is # 15, Now You See It, Now you Don't. This is the description off the back cover:

"Just when she was feeling safe in middle school, Abby has uncovered a mystery. There's a thief on the loose in sixth grade! And whoever it is has an uncanny knack for stealing just what a person values most. Abby is determined to crack the case... until something awful occurs to her. What if the thief is someone she knows?"

Really though, to get this story, you HAVE to read #14, It's Music to my Ears.

Series list-

#1. Every Cloud has a Silver Lining
#2. The Declaration of Independence
#3. Reach for the Stars
#4. Have Wheels, Will Travel
#5. Look before you Leap
#6. The Pen is Mightier than the Sword
#7. Two Heads are Better than One
#8. The More, The Merrier
#9. Out of Sight, Out of Mind
#10. Everything New Under the Sun
#11. Too Close for Comfort
#12. Good Things Come in Small Packages
#13. Some things Never Change
Super Special #1: The Best is Yet to Come
Super Special #2: Knowledge is Power
#14. It's Music to My Ears
#15. Now you See it, Now you Don't

There is an Abby Hayes website on Scholastic.com at scholastic.com/kids under book central and then do a little looking at the book series below the top of the page and the first listed is Abby Hayes.

Till Next Time!
Amy Reads