Nothing cures a reading slump quite like a dose of nostalgia! Readers who grew up with Nancy Drew and those new to the world alike will enjoy this brand-new adventure!
About the Book
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment | Release Date: April 2, 2019 | Pages: 128
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Graphic Novel | Format: PDF | Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Nancy Drew is seventeen and good at everything… ESPECIALLY solving crimes. But her totally-in-control-and-obviously-running-perfectly-smooth-(but-not-really) life hits a snag when a mysterious message drags her back to the hometown she left behind. There she’ll have to find out which of her friends are still her friends, which are enemies, and who exactly is trying to kill her…and (hopefully) stop them before they succeed.
KELLY THOMPSON (Hawkeye, Star Wars, Rogue & Gambit) and JENN ST-ONGE (Giant Days, The Misfits) team up to present an all-new modern spin on a classic mystery icon!
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My Review
Friends, this was such an enjoyable read! I’ve been suffering from the worst reading slump for the past couple of months and just wanted to read and finish something. I grew up reading Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy books, and I figured that there is probably no better cure for a slump that a dose of nostalgia — and how right I was!
“We have so much history…those ties go deep and aren’t easily cut.”
One of the things I loved most about reading Nancy Drew was how strong, smart, and capable she a character she is. I loved the re-imagining of the characters we know and love as modern day teenagers, and unlike some other reboots that I’ve read this is written in a way that doesn’t alienate a younger reader unfamiliar with the source material but also doesn’t alienate people my age that are in it for the nostalgia factor.
I don’t read a lot of graphic novels, but I was impressed with how good the character development is in these first 5 issues! Thompson managed to give the reader a real sense of who the characters are and their complicated backstory effortlessly. With Nancy returning after seven years of drifting apart from her friends, the graphic novel briefly touches on that hurt but also shows how with some friends you can just fall back into patterns as if no time passed at all. I liked that the Hardy boys are also in these comics and how gloriously diverse this is.
There was a conversation between George and Nancy that I especially loved that dealt with our propensity to apologize for being emotional or crying. George’s response was so perfect: “Why is crying dumb anyway? What are we — freaking robots?”I really appreciate the normalization of crying in fiction, and the way that both Nancy and Pete are processing their grief in different ways but also are kind of brought together through their loss as well.
Overall this was a really fun read and I will be watching for the next issue because OH GOODNESS THAT ENDING! I loved the art style and the writing is easy to follow, witty, and full of life as the voices of the characters shine through the pages.
Recommended for: fans of strong female characters that aren’t all pointy (can be soft, too), mystery lovers, and those that read Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys as a kid.
CONTENT WARNINGS: grief, loss of a loved one, murder
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me an eARC via NetGalley for review. Quotations are taken from an uncorrected proof and may change upon publication.
Let’s go on another adventure together!
What a fun read, glad you enjoyed it and got yourself out of a slump! I totally agree with your comments about crying and showing emotion, and love that it was adressed here. Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks so much for your comment, Jordyn! It was really nice to fall back into reading again, even if it was only for a little bit. I really appreciated the showing emotion conversation and hope that things like this come up more & more!
I read this one too and oh my gosh, wasn’t it fun?! I was a little worried they would go too over the top trying to diversify the characters but I really thought they did it just right!
Ahhh I am glad you enjoyed it as well! It was such a fun read & just what I was hoping for. (also what is your blog url? whenever I try to reply back from comments I am led here: https://singerofpages.wordpress.com/)
This one looks so fun! I didn’t even know there was a Nancy Drew graphic novel – I think Nancy Drew is such a fantastic character overall 🙂
I knowww, I had no idea this was going to be a thing and now I am HOOKED! I loved Nancy Drew when I was younger and kind of want to pick up some of those books again now.
I didn’t even know there was a Nancy Drew graphic novel, how cool! I love her😁
Me too, and I was surprised when Destiny recently reviewed it as well! Luckily I was able to get an ARC from NetGalley.
I never reallly got into Nancy Drew, although I did watch the movie with Emma … oh great, mind blank on her last name … several times. If my library gets a copy of this, I’ll need to check it out. Great review Kaleena!
I don’t know that I knew there was a movie, and now I want to watch it! Honestly I hadn’t thought about Nancy Drew in decades but now all I want to do is buy the books off Book Outlet. Thanks for stopping by!
Sounds like fun and glad this helped with your slump!
I loved Nancy Drew, mom had gotten me all of the Nancy Drew books as a kid, and seeing this, I didn’t go for it because I was afraid it wouldn’t live up to my expectations but the art really does look gorgeous and your recs are solid, so I’m now like ‘do…do I add it?’ haha, great review!
I feel this on a deep level.
*whispers* Add it. Also now all I want to do after I finish reading DotC is buy all the books off Book outlet
Great review Kal! Like I said before, you really know how to make a girl add to her TBR when she doesn’t want too! I grew up with Nancy and the gang so I’m a little hesitant with recreations solely because I don’t want to tarnish the mems I have from the original. But based on your review this sounds like it could potentially enhance the mems. Can’t wait for it’s release!
Thank you so much, Sam, and I am glad to not be slacking on the ADD BOOKS TO SAM’S TBR front! I hope you like it as much as I did.
YESSSSS NANCY DREW WAS MY CHILDHOOD. Plus I think they came out with a younger, more middle grade version, so I ate those up along with the original ones. I’m so happy to hear this adaptation puts a modern spin while being able to um… waddle between both age groups? Wow, what is English. And oooo the Hardy Boys are in here too? *ears perk*
NANCY DREW WAS MY CHILDHOOD TOO! It’s amazing to think about the books and music I consumed as a child and how they shaped me as an adult. Weird. Anyways. Yes this was good and I want to read more! Also the Hardy Boys were too cute, much fun
Awesome review! The art style is defo eye catchy 🙂
I don’t think i’ve ever read anything Nancy Drew related. Might as well start with the graphic novels 😀
I think the Graphic novel would be a great place to start — you get a sense of the history but knowledge of the backstory isn’t required!