THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK
By Carolyn Keene
Grosset & Dunlap, 1959
Category: Middle grade fiction of the most nostalgic sort
Nancy Drew, an attractive girl of eighteen, was driving home along a country road in her new, dark-blue convertible. She had just delivered some legal papers for her father.
“It was sweet of Dad to give me this car for my birthday,” she thought. “And it’s fun to help him in his work.”
Think what you will, but this opening thrills me. The scene is as familiar as my own reflection. Nancy Drew! I had forgotten how much I admired her independence, her ability to change tires and think her way out of locked closets, the impossible way that coincidence is always on her side.
I don’t think I’ll go back and read the entire series, but reading this first volume again was fascinating. And because I just can’t help but share more, I’ll leave you with this …
With foreboding, Nancy stopped and got out to make an inspection. As she had suspected, a rear tire was flat.
“Oh dear!” she murmered [sic] in disgust. “Such luck!”
Though Nancy was able to change a tire, she never relished the task. Quickly she took out the spare tire from the rear compartment, found the jack and lug wrench, and went to work. By the time her job was completed, she was hot and a little breathless.
“Whew!” she exclaimed, as she started on her way again. “I’ll be ready for a nice, cool swim in Moon Lake!”