Eighty years of mystery began with one book. First published in 1930, “Secret of the Old Clock” was the first published book in the Nancy Drew series. A dead wealthy man leaves a family in a will with all of the money and many others baffled. Months prior to Josiah Crowley’s death, he publicly stated that he had made a second will giving his money to well deserving friends and family.
Upon hearing about the situation, Nancy begins to search for this will and assist those who anticipated receiving money. While following cryptic clues and forgotten secrets, her compassion for each of the friends and family in need grows, and she resolves to find the second will, no matter the cost.
Throughout the book, Nancy fights to discover the location of the second will by facing down criminals and threats on her life. Although this is just her very first mystery, she is unwilling to back down until she has found the truth.
When Nancy first burst onto the scene, she was a spunky teenager, fearless in the face of any danger. She also crushed stereotypes and boundaries of women at the time. Today, readers may not appreciate such challenges to the norm, but Nancy was a revolution regarding women’s abilities. With ease and grace, Nancy epitomizes the strong woman with plucky independence and every bit of culture and kindness.
Throughout every page and chapter, Nancy proves to readers, young and old, that the rules of the age aren’t always a reflection of reality. Even today, Nancy is an inspiration, proving once again that a girl can do anything she sets her mind to and that backing down is never an option.
As Nancy Drew’s 80th birthday approaches, I recommend picking up her books to trace her story and inspiration on generations of American girls and understand why she has solidified her place as a true American icon.