Will the Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up

by Christine Keleny

**Midwest Book Award Finalist**

If you always wondered how the plucky, intelligent, resourceful, and famous girl sleuth we affectionately call Nancy came into being, “Will the Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up” will give you insights into the lives of the three primary creators of Nancy and her pals and the controversy that still rages today about who really created the Nancy that millions of readers across the globe have come to know and love.


"Will the Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up is a fresh take on one of America’s most popular characters—Nancy Drew. Keleny offers readers a behind-the-scenes look at the dedicated and determined creators of the series. She also reveals the competing—and often conflicting—visions each author had for Nancy. This novel is entertaining, smart, and exceptionally well researched. It is certain to interest anyone who is curious about the surprising mystery behind the Nancy Drew mysteries." ~ Jenna Nelson, PhD

Enter for a chance to win a signed copy!

Genres: Historical Fiction

365 pages, Paperback

First published July 27, 2014

About the author

I am a writer, reader, author, editor, book designer and publisher. I am a mother of two, grown, children and a wife. I like working with my hands, so when the need or desire arises, I crochet, sew, tile, paint, cross stitch, frame pictures, stain furniture, cut and split fire wood, x-country ski, train and ride horses…
But my main loves are writing and helping others publish the book of their dreams. I started writing in college (a while ago!) and haven't stopped since. I'm having the time of my life!

Reviews

[Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a review copy of this book.

In middle school at one point my entire (almost, anyway) reading comprised of Nancy Drew. The library that I went to back then had all the different series--the original books, the files, even the Dana Girls books, and I would issue a couple (or more) each time I went. As a child I had also read the Bobbsey Twins. And later I also was hooked onto the Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Supermysteries that featured both. So of course, when I saw this book on NetGalley, I knew I simply had to read it. This book is basically a fictionalised account of the Stratemeyer Syndicate which created a number of series of juvenile (children’s and teen) fiction from the early 1900s onwards, and whose titles continue to be published to this day. The book begins with the founder and brains behind the syndicate, Edward Stratemeyer, whose endless ideas gave birth to many many stories, and moves on to his daughters, Harriet Adams and Edna, essentially Harriet who took on the reins of the company after Stratemeyer’s sudden death and carried on the business. It also tells the stories of some of the numerous ghostwriters who wrote these stories, based off of the outlines that Stratemeyer and later Harriet provided them, but the focus amongst these is Mildred Wirt Benson who wrote many of the initial Nancy Drew stories besides other books for the syndicate, as well as many others under her own name. We enter into their lives, get a glimpse of their personalities, of course their work, and the question of which of them could claim to be the real Carolyn Keene. The story is anchored around litigation that took place in the 1980s between Harriet Adams and Grosset and Dunlap, the publishers over their contract to publish the syndicate’s titles.

As someone who enjoyed not only Nancy Drew but some of the other series that the Syndicate brought out, I really enjoyed reading this book. Edward Stratemeyer was a real genius and a fascinating person to read about. One can only be in awe at the sheer amount of ideas that his mind generated. It is also intriguing to see how he was so forward thinking in some ways and yet conservative in others, but overall I found him to be very likeable. Admiration and awe combined with some liking and sympathy are feelings that come into mind over Mildred Wirt Benson as well, who was a pioneer in many ways, intrepid, ready to take on challenges, and one who wrote articles for the paper where she worked and could fly a plane till her dying day (when she was all of 96!!!). Harriet Adams was also worthy of admiration (this word is coming in a lot in this review, isn’t it?) for the way she took charge of and ran the company, facing various challenges, including from her own family, even though she wasn’t in the same mould as her father. But while I did admire her, even feel a little sympathy for her at places, I didn’t really take to her or her sister (as adults). I enjoyed reading how all their stories played out, and in them how some of our favourite stories came into being. While I had a general idea about the Syndicate and that they used ghostwriters including Benson to write their various titles, I had no idea before reading the book just how many books and series they were responsible for. This was a really interesting read, which led me to discover a couple of really fascinating personalities as well!

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a history lesson

This was a story I thought I knew something about but now I know the whole story. Although I can appreciate the talent of Mr. Stutemeyer he did not exactly play financially fair. As a Nancy Drew Mystery fan, I found this book to be very eye-opening. It was fun to go back down memory lane with the plots and insider information about the earliest books.

With secrets, contracts, and unusual business practices, this book made me reevaluate everything I had known before. Written in a fluid manner that keeps you wondering what is going to be revealed later. Great women in a time when women were not expected to do anything but marry and raise children.

[Jypsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read some Nancy Drew books when I was younger. I had no idea that several people authored the books. This was informative and engaging on a subject I knew nothing about. I recommend for fans of Nancy Drew. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the author for an honest review.

Like many girls growing up, I was a huge fan of Nancy Drew. Back in ye olden times, there was no YA/tween market and no plethora of authors to choose from (like we do now) so I had to survive on a diet of Judy Blume, Beverly Clearly and Nancy Drew books. Thankfully, they were (and still are) awesome books and Nancy Drew was my first role model. It was where I first learned how to disable a car (psst...salt in the gas tank!), realized a young woman was completely capable of handling herself in dangerous circumstances (Ned Nickerson was hardly ever around!) and having two totally opposite sidekicks/cousins was hilariously fun and necessary and important to solve an investigation just as Nancy's wit and smarts were.

Imagine my shock when, years later, I discovered Carolyn Keene was not the elderly woman I had thought of, penning stories in her lovely office all these years, but a pen name for a series of ghostwriters! NOO!!! The feeling was almost akin to the time when my best friend from high school told me the Monkees were not a real band. Shocking!

For many years, I thought Carolyn Keene had been concocted in a boardroom, devised by Mad Men-like executives, shallow, faceless entities that churned out stories and plots just to keep the money wheel spinning, with no thought or consideration to the legions of fans Nancy Drew had created.

That's why I was so eager to read this book.

First, the book was well researched and I loved the way Ms. Keleny wrote it, as a novel, rather than as a standard non-fiction narrative. That made the story more enjoyable, exciting and interesting. It's one of the reasons I do not generally read non-fiction.

Secondly, it's really uplifting to know Mr. Stratemeyer created Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, as well as a score of other titles. He was truly talented and a dedicated business man, including his eldest daughter, Harriet. I can understand the need for ghostwriters from a business perspective, uncommon then, ironically, not so uncommon now, especially with celebrities and reality stars 'writing' books now.

Third, I admired all the characters; the Stratemeyer daughters (maybe Edna less) and Mildred. I could relate to them even though they were completely different from each another but their strength, personal convictions and determination is relatable for anyone. Ironically, the Stratemeyers daughters and Mildred were not unlike Nancy Drew herself; smart, loyal and tough as hell.

I'm really happy to know Nancy Drew was borne out of the mind of a shrewd and gifted man, and not in a board room with people who didn't know how to craft a good story, much less a mystery.

I look forward to the day when my own daughters will enjoy reading Nancy Drew and this book as well.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subject of this book really interested me, having read well over 50 Nancy Drew mysteries as a girl. The book was not what I expected. I thought it was going to be a linear sort of biographical or historical account of the writing of the Nancy Drew mystery series. But instead, it was a fictionalized account based on actual historical events. It was a little difficult to get into the story because there were so many disconnected characters, but once I was pulled into the story, it was hard to put it down. The way the syndicate kept so many different children's series going for so long was very interesting. The Nancy Drew mysteries had their origins in storytelling that began long before I was born, but the saga continues through the time period where I was devouring the books. At one point I had both an older copy and a new copy of The Sign of the Twisted Candle and I compared them side by side for the updates so I was particularly interested in the updates from the old blue denim covers to the more modern yellow hardcovers that were selling in the 1960s. I also liked the behind the scenes negotiations regarding the televisions series. This book had strong female characters who were ahead of their time and would appeal to anyone who loved Nancy Drew growing up or is interested in women in journalism. I received a free copy of this book.

[Debbie Carnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up reading Nancy Drew books, so I thought this book was GREAT.
All about the great characters and the publishing of the great Nancy Drew,

Just a wonderful read, very interesting

[David Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a saying that goes," it takes a village to raise a child". Well it seems that it takes a syndicate and multiple authors to write this beloved series for children. Harold Stratemeyer, and later his two daughters, ran a syndicate of writers to come out with several iconic series for children including Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Tom Swift (and Tom Swift, Jr), Rover Boys , Bobbsie Twins, and many others. The syndicate used ghost writers quite frequently to fill in outlines that they provided along with a series of guidelines along which the stories should be written. These stories would then be proofread and corrected, and if needed changed to be closer to the guidelines provided by the syndicate. Later the stories were rewritten to both modernize and change their length to a more desired range of pages (and chapters). Needless to say that with all of these authors working on a story, there are times when conflicts over who is responsible for what and in which direction the characters should go.

My parents always encouraged all of their children to read. Naturally Nancy Drew was one of those series that was always present. Honestly, I followed The Hardy Boys more but I was always aware of Nancy. I had heard at some point that the same person was responsible for both series but never knew the whole story. The truth makes a compelling read. The whole system of the writing of so many series was fascinating. It helps to show how the whole approach to publishing has changed over time. It was amazing to think that a single family ( and mainly just two members of that family) were able to keep control of not only putting out so many series but keeping the secret of the ghost writers for so long.

There were a few glitches that ran throughout the book, A few typos of minor import, but the most common glitch seemed to be a formatting issue. There were quite a few pieces of correspondence throughout the book. The dates at the beginning and the closings were chopped off. So it was common to see things like uly 24 for July 24 and ours truly ildred for Yours truly Mildred. I know this is a very minor thing, but it happened on every single letter that was included (and there were quite a few). Another thing that I would have liked to have seen was an actual list of all of the titles that the Stratemeyer Syndicate were responsible for publishing.

I think this book would be an interesting read for any fan of Nancy Drew. But it will also appeal to fan of any of the old series that the Stratemeyers were responsible for starting.

[gem · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you, like me, used to raid the local library for Nancy Drew books, intent upon finding out what scandal her and her pals were going to get caught up in next, then you’ll want to read this; you’ll get to learn all about the syndicate of authors who comprised of the Carolyn Keene syndicate and created the infamous girl detective. Nancy Drew is synonymous with mystery solving, meddling and uncovering all manner of secrets and scandals so it seems fitting that the ghost writers themselves were involved in their own scandal.
I knew absolutely none of this! I managed to get hold of my fair share of Nancy Drew books in the early 90s but it wasn’t until I was much older that I realised they were the books that spurred my love of mystery books (no matter how contrived the Nancy storylines were!).
This was a fascinating read to uncover truths I didn’t know I needed to know!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stratemeyer Syndicate and the Battle Over America's Favorite Sleuth Renowned for its prolific publication of children’s series, the Stratemeyer Syndicate entered the publishing world of the early twentieth century as the brainchild of writer and editor Edward Stratemeyer. Stratemeyer’s lifelong love of children’s stories led him to create numerous series, such as The Rover Boys and The Hardy Boys, which captured the imaginations of youth and sought to instill morality and good citizenship. As such, each series fostered by the Syndicate followed Stratemeyer’s formulaic approach and, though penned by ghostwriters, began as an outline set forth by Stratemeyer himself. Upon Stratemeyer’s death in 1930, his daughter Harriet Adams appropriated leadership of the Syndicate and moved forward with her father’s ideas and some of her own—a combination most notably evidenced with the genesis of Nancy Drew. Despite the Syndicate’s overall success as a publishing magnate, its very approach led to controversy over the years, and it is this that Christine Keleny first implements to draw readers into her fascinating work of nonfiction.

“Will the Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up” opens with and is bookended by the 1980 court trial battle between Harriet Stratemeyer Adams and Grosset and Dunlap. In between, however, Keleny masterfully takes readers on a historical journey through the lives of the Stratemeyers and their descendants, from the boyhood dream of Edward to Harriet’s carrying the torch years later. Make no mistake, however; this is no dry family history. On the contrary, “Will the Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up” offers a spellbinding account of how some of childhood’s most legendary heroes and heroines came into being, and why they continue to attract audiences even in the twenty-first century. An accompanying bibliography gives readers fodder for additional research as well.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa Cobb Sabatini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Will The Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up by Christine Keleny from the author in exchange for a fair review.

In her book, Will The Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up, author Christine Keleny carefully maps out the path of the beloved Nancy Drew series from its original concept to the day many of those involved ended up in court fighting for the rights to the series.
Keleny begins at the end, with a day during the court proceedings, luring the reader in to the fascinating story of the people who created and wrote the mystery series for young girls. For most of the rest of the book, the author chronologically introduces the creator, writers, editors, and others who were involved in the Nancy Drew series. As each individual's story is told, the reader feels as if he is living through the events with that person.
The book is written in such a way that it can be read and readily comprehended by a young reader, yet thoroughly enjoyed by an older reader who desires to learn about the history of Nancy Drew, the people who wrote the series, as well as the history and writers of other series associated with Edward Stratemeyer and the Edward Stratemeyer Syndicate.
As I read the book, I found myself going back and forth between liking certain individuals and then not liking them at all. I credit Keleny's presentation of these individuals as the complex people they were, no doubt, in life.
Will The Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up is a book for readers who enjoy reading about writing and publishing. It is also a good book for young writers to read to help them think about and discuss issues of intellectual property. Perhaps most of all, Keleny's book is a great read for those who simply loved reading Nancy Drew when they were young.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received the e-book version from the author for my honest review. First of all I have to admit that I loved Nancy Drew books when I was growing up and had many fond memories of them. I wanted to be like her, have her adventures, and find a house with a secret room. (I was disappointed that my home had no secret rooms!) However after reading this book I have become slightly disillusioned about the Nancy Drew books and they have lost some of their joy for me. I found this book fascinating and quite interesting but a little hard to follow sometimes. There were a lot of names of characters and the time jumps were too abrupt at times. I realize that the book had to cover a long time period but it did seem disjointed sometimes. I did think that it was amazing that one person could have so many wonderful ideas for stories and books --what a talent! It was interesting to me to read that books like The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series etc. were written by more than one author who were given an outline to follow. The authors who wrote the Nancy books did really seem to care about "their" characters in the books but I really wonder what the Nancy Drew books would have been like with only one author writing them all. I did gain some insight into the book writing and publishing process by reading this book. Who is the real Carolyn Keene? Read this book and you decide.

[Judy Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so interesting. I read the Nancy Drew books when I was young. Loved them. Now to find out that Carolyn Keene didn't exist.... well, what can I say? Very informative. Anyone who read Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and so many more titles, should read this book. You will be taken by surprise about how they went about writing these series. The many talented writers who had to sign a waver, giving up the rights to their stories. I'm glad I read this book.

[Faye Ridpath · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author of this book offered me a free digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was very entertaining and informative. I loved reading about how my favorite mysteries growing up came into being, especially "Nancy Drew".

This book is also one I could see being made into a movie, maybe a Lifetime movie.

I would love to read more books by this author.

[Domisty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had absolutely no clue the history behind the Nancy Drew series & the controversy over who "the real Carolyn Keene" was that being said I loved this book!! The author did a great job explaining how the publishing world works & the history with the Stratemeyer family & the Syndicate.

**I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway**

[Bonnie. Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The history of these authors was very interesting . Well written characters which is Ms kelenys strength. You never forget her characters. They are real and interesting and well researched. I love all her books

[Karleen Brennan Turchin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I too was given a digital copy of this book by the author. I like everyone else grew up reading Nancy Drew books and loved them. It was nice to learn the background of all the different books that were written. I definitely would love to read more books by this author.

[Karen McQuestion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a lot of Nancy Drew mysteries as a child and as a writer, it was fascinating to see how the series came about.

[Mrsk Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did you grow up reading Nancy Drew books? Remember the way she would drive around town in her convertible, having adventures, being brave and solving mysteries? I certainly do, she was an important stepping stone in my formative literary years. Now that I have read Will the Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up, by Christine Keleny, and it has left me shattered!

This book appears to be well researched and delves into the origin of the Nancy Drew series, brain child of publisher Edward Stratemeyer. Keleny describes how ghost writers were used to write all of the Nancy Drew books, Carolyn Keene is merely a collective pseudonym! I was upset to learn that the author of one of my favourite series of childhood books, Carolyn Keene, was not one person, but a series of ghost writers. Even more disenchanting was discovering both how little the primary ghost writer was paid – just a flat fee, no royalties – and how disrespected she was by her employer.

Keleny sheds light on the publishing and printing industry in the early 20th century. How the game was played, who made the decisions and the importance of a good story outline. If you were ever curious about the formula for writing a Nancy Drew book, and were unable to figure it out yourself, this book will help you.

All in all, I found that Keleny spent too much time imagining family dramas and creating dialogues for her characters. The important content of this novel would have been a more interesting read if presented as a classic five-paragraph essay, instead of being dragged out over 365 pages. A good editor would have helped move this story along, and maybe even pointed out that a question mark was required in the title.

I received a free copy of this ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Tracey Gemmell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the publisher.
I have to confess, I've never read a Nancy Drew book. Luckily, that's not a requirement to enjoy this novel. This is a fascinating look behind the scenes at the publishing machine, headed by Edward Stratemeyer, responsible for creating hundreds of titles and millions of sales spanning decades. If you're a writer, you'll marvel at the speed at which novels were churned out, using multiple ghost writers. If you like a mystery, you'll enjoy trying to work out who should get the credit for authoring some of the most popular series ever published. If you enjoy a look at times past, you'll learn much about how authors, especially female authors, were treated in the early 20th century.
The scope of research conducted by Ms. Keleny is impressive. She's to be commended for blending fact and fiction in an interesting manner. I gave it 4 stars as, at times, I found too much detail (for example, the flying lessons) slowed the story somewhat. However, it's still a recommended read.

[Anjana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sort of non-fiction that is not exactly completely non-fiction. It reads more like fiction but uses the facts from the past and does not change the outcomes of the people involved. Since it was listed under Historical fiction on GoodReads, I decided to do the same. I picked this up because I remember reading somewhere about the controversy that surrounded the Nancy Drew series quite late. I was never a big fan of Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys since I ended up with predominantly English authors as compared to their American counterparts.

The author's style seemed to target the audience that the subject of the book also aimed. Meaning a younger audience, with lesser mature content. In itself, it is very informative and presents a startling picture into the rights of authors and the concept of serialised books in the US. I found it hard to read at one go because of the pace, but the story within was interesting. I do not want to give a summary since a google search would probably give us a brief version of the situation. The author has presented us with a fictional version of what transpired in the making of a syndicate that ultimately held the rights for a lot of stories that Americans of many generations grew up with. It was also a focal point of the narrative to bring to the forefront the differences between women as time progressed. 

It is a different read and for someone with even a mild interest in the publishing industry in the US through past decades and in Nancy Drew herself should check it out.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

[Allen Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift and found it to be as much a fantastic work of historical fiction as journalism. The research and attention to details, the various legal battles that occurred over decades over the rights to the Nancy Drew mysteries, as well as other syndicated stories, was astounding. I read Nancy Drew in middle school, a long, long time ago. I had no idea the legal issues that went on behind the scenes for so long. Loved it. Five stars!

[Chris Eirschele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you read Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys' when you were young? Then I suggest you read "Will The Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up" by Christine Keleny. In the genre of historical fiction, the book's Biblography and Acknowledgments pages indicate the story was thoroughly researched by the author.

Or perhaps, you are a writer who wants to go back in time to when publishers hired ghostwriters, perhaps long before you thought they ever existed. This, too, is a book for you.

Will The Read Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up is a well-written, self-published book by an independent author and was finalist for the Midwest Book Award. I highly recommend this historical fiction for the well crafted story and mingling of actual writings from true-life people in the writing world.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance digital copy in return for an honest review.
Whilst I never read any of the Nancy Drew books I do remember the series
s on TV in the 1970s.

This is the background to the syndicate that developed Nancy Drew (and other series). This novel offers a background into the syndicate, and spans a hundred years from the beginning with Edward Stratemeyer at the helm, to being run by his daughters after his death.

This isn’t Nancy Drew, this is a historical glimpse of these plucky women’s lives, and I found myself rather enjoying this glimpse.

[Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always loved Nancy Drew and expected to love this. While interesting in parts, I found this dry and hard to get into. Still, valuable information for fellow Nancy fans.

[The Kawaii Slartibartfast · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved Nancy Drew Mysteries since I was 8. I've had to have read over 200 of the various series.

This book is a wonderful tribute to the character of Nancy and Carolyn, the pen name for the books.

The book spans almost a hundred years and goes into the life of Edward Stratemeyer and have s family and the ghostwriter Mildred.

I'm sure there will be some folks disappointed that this isn't Nancypalooza straight out the gate but it certainly is a cracking good piece of historical fiction.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will the Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up

Christine Keleny

To those who grew up reading the beloved Nancy Drew girl sleuth novels and ever wondered what their esteemed author must be like, finding they were written by several different authors through the years, all under the same pseudonym, feels duplicitous and is a mystery in itself. Those in the publishing world no doubt are familiar with the Stratemeyer Syndicate and the many series of books Edward Stratemeyer, and his daughters succeeding him, published using numerous ghost writers under single-author pseudonyms starting in the 1890's and continuing for more than seventy years. Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, The Bobbsey Twins, Ruth Fielding, The Rover Boys and Tom Swift, to name a few. For those of us who missed this sensational story, author Christine Keleny does an amazing job here with a very well put-together and absorbing tale. Looking for interesting characters, family drama and knowledge about how some of your favorite childhood books were written? Whether you're a Nancy Drew fan or not, this is a fascinating read. 4.5 of 5 stars.

[Joyce Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I, as a reader, parent, teacher, and librarian, knew that the Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Bobbsey Twins series (the ones with which I am most familiar) were written by ghost writers under common pen names for the Stratemeyer Syndicate. The fact that the daughters carried on writing outlines after their father passed away lay tucked away in my memory bank, too. However, I had read nothing about the various actual writers, the obvious desire of these prolific story writers to want credit for their work, Harriet’s negotiations with her publisher, the tensions between Edward Stratemeyer’s two daughters who inherited the business, or the final court case which decided the fate of the Nancy Drew books and ultimately the syndicate.
The research undertaken by Christine Keleny to make the characters, the language, the changing mores, and the factual content of this amazing story come to life must have been daunting. Every scene reflects the character of the person speaking and the changing attitudes, styles, and beliefs of the times, regions, or social strata in which they took place. At the beginning of the book I was put off by the stilted language of the dialog until I realized it was probably reflective of the way those particular people at that time would have spoken.
I love to learn history through historical fiction, and I love to learn about authors. I thoroughly enjoyed learning both in this intriguing history. Not only that, but the revelation about how Grosset & Dunlap Publishing treated the creators of their most popular children’s series sounds relevant to today’s publisher vs. writer stories in the news.

[Joe Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judging by most of the reviews here, I may be the only person who did not receive a review copy. While the title is a bit unwieldy, the book is nicely written and if you grew up with the Hardy Boys, as I did, it is very interesting to read about their creation and of course that of their co-detective Nancy Drew. Sorry I'm an ex-boy so the Hardys were more my thing, though Pamela Sue Anderson might have changed that a bit, but that is a story for another day.

I'm not absolutely certain how much artistic license was taken with the events and dialogue in the book. Little is known about the early days of Edward Stratemeyer, so I suspect the early chapters at least are a bit fanciful. Still this makes for an interesting read and putting the appropriate words in the mouths of historical characters goes back to the ancient Greeks. Most of the book is told in vignettes which takes us through the history of Edward Stratemeyer's life and career, along with those of his daughter and several ghost writers, most notably Margret Wirt Benson. Later the chapters become longer and have more to do with the mundane running of the business.

The characters are well rounded and generally sympathetic as each gets their time in the spotlight. The case for both Harriet and Mildred as the 'creator' of Nancy Drew is give fair play. In the end both women had a huge influence on the iconic character and it is hard to imagine Nancy without each one of her 'mothers'.

[Kristina Anderson]

Will the Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up by Christine Keleny is a very intriguing novel. It is a fictionalized account of the people who created and wrote the Nancy Drew Mysteries. For those of you who thought that Carolyn Keene wrote the books, this book will shatter that illusion. Edward Stratemeyer started many different stories over his lifetime including The Nancy Drew stories.

The book tells the story of Edward, Magdalene, his wife, and two daughters, Edna and Harriet. We also get to meet the various writers of the stories. There are a lot of characters in the book and it can get a little confusing at times at it switches back and forth between writers and the Stratemeyer family. It is quite interesting to find out how the stories were developed (by Edward) and written (by other people).

Once I started reading this book, I just kept reading until I finished it. Christine Keleny wrote a wonderful account on the creation of Nancy Drew, her stories, and her creator and writers.

I receive a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book! I really enjoyed the in depth history of the writing of the Nancy Drew series. It was so interesting to read about the company that originated this series, as well as the Hardy Boys and Bobbsey Twins.
It was a completely different time, and children's books were very popular then. I liked reading about the original founder of the company, Edward Stratemeyer, from the very beginning when he was young in the late 1800's, and how he married and started a family, and started the Stratemeyer company and wrote constantly, starting many children's book series. The behind the scenes activity of the growing company was great, and reading the story of one of the ghost writers employed by Edward was a highlight of the book. I highly recommend this book, Will the Real Carolyn Keene Please Stand Up. Thanks to the author for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.