Nancy Drew Spin-Off SeriesSince the 1980s we've had several paperback spin-off series published. These include the Nancy Drew Files, Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Super Mysteries, Nancy Drew Ghost Stories 1 and 2, Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Super Sleuths 1 and 2, Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Be a Detective Series, Nancy Drew Notebooks, Nancy Drew Clue Crew, Nancy Drew On Campus, Nancy Drew Graphic Novels, and Nancy Drew Girl Detective.
Of these spin-offs, the longest running spin-off was the Nancy Drew Files series at 124 books. It was probably the most successful of the spin-offs, although the Notebooks and Clue Crew are definitely pretty popular as well. Nancy Drew Girl Detective had a 7 year run but won't even have reached 50 volumes once it ends early next year.
Of these spin-offs, my favorites are the Nancy Drew Files and the Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Super Mysteries. These came out when I was a teenager and I liked the modern style of them to a degree and the romance. Nancy also solved murders and there was some flirtation between her and Frank Hardy which was different from the usual Ned Nickerson.
The one I like least? Nancy Drew On Campus. This is the antithesis of what Nancy Drew--classic Nancy Drew--was all about and such which was "safe and sane" entertainment for kids. Harriet Adams and the Stratemeyer Syndicate's mantra. To which I firmly agree with. These books were more about social issues and college romance than mystery. Not at all the reason why kids read Nancy Drew. They read Nancy Drew for MYSTERY. Without much mystery they were just terrible all around. And while Nancy Drew Files was a bit of a departure from Classic Nancy, it was much better styled as a mystery series and was more successful in that regard.
Which ones do you like and dislike and why?
Jenn:)
