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Nancy Drew: Girl Detective Graphic Novels #11
Monkey-Wrench Blues
Papercutz presents the conclusion to the biggest Nancy Drew graphic novel adventure ever. "The High Miles Mystery," winds up with a race that could spell life or death for the girl detective! Hinkley is able to build a prototype for a new high-efficiency car based on a recently recovered engine. After seeing Nancy drive a tank and stop a speeding train, he wants her (and mechanic Bess) to drive the prototype in a government-sponsored race. The car with the best fuel efficiency wins a government development contract, money Hinkley and Credo would need to bring the car to production. But someone is determined that Nancy and Bess lose-- at any cost!
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
Stefan Petrucha
321 books273 followersStefan Petrucha (born January 27, 1959) is an American writer for adults and young adults. He has written graphic novels in the The X-Files and Nancy Drew series, as well as science fiction and horror.
Born in the Bronx, he has spent time in the big city and the suburbs, and now lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, fellow writer Sarah Kinney, and their daughters. At times he has been a tech writer, an educational writer, a public relations writer and an editor for trade journals, but his preference is for fiction in all its forms.
Born in the Bronx, he has spent time in the big city and the suburbs, and now lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, fellow writer Sarah Kinney, and their daughters. At times he has been a tech writer, an educational writer, a public relations writer and an editor for trade journals, but his preference is for fiction in all its forms.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 21, 2009
My public library finally got this back (or bought a new copy). This is part 3 of a three-parter; it follows
Ghost in the Machinery
and
The Disoriented Express
. But the ties between the books are pretty loose, so you don't really have to read the others first.
In this one, Nancy and Bess are participants in a race of experimental cars(!); the winner will get a government contract to mass-produce new fuel-efficient vehicles. (The cars have to run the race on one gallon of gas; Nancy's team takes only half [with the car's designer pouring the other half-gallon out on the desert sand--yuck!:]--and a couple teams refuse the gas altogether.)
The race is fun and exciting, with twists and turns, and Bess going into a crawlspace(!) to the keep the car moving at high speeds. The ending is clever, and answers the biggest question I had about the proceedings (which, to be fair, is presented on page 2).
While I quite enjoyed this book, I'd say that the "three-parter" was a bit of a letdown; the connections are tenuous, and it would only take minor edits to turn the three books into standalone stories. (In this book, the penultimate page ties off a few dangling threads, but still leaves others unresolved.)
(Finished 2009-20-19 0:02 EDT.)
In this one, Nancy and Bess are participants in a race of experimental cars(!); the winner will get a government contract to mass-produce new fuel-efficient vehicles. (The cars have to run the race on one gallon of gas; Nancy's team takes only half [with the car's designer pouring the other half-gallon out on the desert sand--yuck!:]--and a couple teams refuse the gas altogether.)
The race is fun and exciting, with twists and turns, and Bess going into a crawlspace(!) to the keep the car moving at high speeds. The ending is clever, and answers the biggest question I had about the proceedings (which, to be fair, is presented on page 2).
While I quite enjoyed this book, I'd say that the "three-parter" was a bit of a letdown; the connections are tenuous, and it would only take minor edits to turn the three books into standalone stories. (In this book, the penultimate page ties off a few dangling threads, but still leaves others unresolved.)
(Finished 2009-20-19 0:02 EDT.)
March 10, 2010
Nancy and Bess are driving an experimental car made from the tank engine’s magnets built by Roy Hinkley. They’ve entered a government sponsored race in hopes of winning a developmental contract. Nancy is up against stiff competition. During the race, the girls realize one of the other drivers will stop at nothing to win the race. Even if it means sabotage Nancy and Bess. Ride how Nancy solves the case and find out if she wins the race.
April 7, 2013
So I'm a little confused by this book. I loved the other 2 I've read so far, but I'm kinda weirded out by how Bess seems to be so much more like George was in the old books, and vice versa. Otherwise, a fun, fast read, and a great way to revisit my childhood love for Nancy Drew (even if I thought the solution to the mystery was obvious from pg 6, panel 1.)
July 26, 2008
I read this book as research for my upcoming presentation on graphic novels. It was ok. It is shelved in the children's room of the Lawrence Public Library, and it seems to be aimed at younger kids. I'm not excited about it, but I didn't hate it either.
December 8, 2011
I like this book but, there wasn't really a mystery for Nancy Drew. It was a little boring.
May 18, 2021
It was a short comic book. But it did keep me interested for what was going to happen in the race. I also liked when there friend acted like he didn't like the race but secretly did.
October 8, 2023
Nancy Drew, the Graphic Novel version is back. This time the adventure is a speedy one.
Scientist Roy Hinkley and his sponsor Ralph Credo are actually betting on three things,
i) The Wonderful Magnetic Engine car. ( The magnets were derived from that WWII tank engine previously. )
ii) Nancy's driving skills. ( Some deduction skills also )
iii) The Car Engine expertise of Bass.
There are other experimental fancy cars around for this specific race. Winning this one would lead the Sponsor to gain a huge Government Development Contract.
The contract is needed for the car production.
So, a lot of people are interested to win this race. Since Nancy Drew is there, trouble /accidant prone events or even sabotages are almost enivitable.
Each car must go through dirt, mountain and dessert. Out of all the cars one mysterious vehicle is the real competition for Nancy and Bass.
In this fast and furious journey Nancy has to win the race and solve another mystery.
"Go, Speed Racer! Go!" Even Bass cheered for her team shouting the above during the race. This adventure gave some Speed-Racer vibe.
The mystery solving aspect still felt a bit disappointing to me. But these adventures are actually written for kids.
The artwork is better than the previous issue but still not for me, I guess.
Storytelling was fast-paced and had some fun twist and turn moments.
I am looking forward to the next adventure of The Girl Detective.
Book Review
Name : Monkey Wrench Blues
( Based on the series by Carolyn Keene )
Writer : Stefan Petrucha and Sarah Kinney
Artist : Sho Murase
Letterer : Bryan Senka
Editor in Chief : Jim Salicrup
© 2007 Simon and Schuster, produced and represented by Papercutz, USA.
Scientist Roy Hinkley and his sponsor Ralph Credo are actually betting on three things,
i) The Wonderful Magnetic Engine car. ( The magnets were derived from that WWII tank engine previously. )
ii) Nancy's driving skills. ( Some deduction skills also )
iii) The Car Engine expertise of Bass.
There are other experimental fancy cars around for this specific race. Winning this one would lead the Sponsor to gain a huge Government Development Contract.
The contract is needed for the car production.
So, a lot of people are interested to win this race. Since Nancy Drew is there, trouble /accidant prone events or even sabotages are almost enivitable.
Each car must go through dirt, mountain and dessert. Out of all the cars one mysterious vehicle is the real competition for Nancy and Bass.
In this fast and furious journey Nancy has to win the race and solve another mystery.
"Go, Speed Racer! Go!" Even Bass cheered for her team shouting the above during the race. This adventure gave some Speed-Racer vibe.
The mystery solving aspect still felt a bit disappointing to me. But these adventures are actually written for kids.
The artwork is better than the previous issue but still not for me, I guess.
Storytelling was fast-paced and had some fun twist and turn moments.
I am looking forward to the next adventure of The Girl Detective.
Book Review
Name : Monkey Wrench Blues
( Based on the series by Carolyn Keene )
Writer : Stefan Petrucha and Sarah Kinney
Artist : Sho Murase
Letterer : Bryan Senka
Editor in Chief : Jim Salicrup
© 2007 Simon and Schuster, produced and represented by Papercutz, USA.
September 20, 2021
Nan is selected to drive an experimental car in a race of vehicles with various methods of energy. A mystery driver, her car keeps breaking down. Several images of her wearing a helmet, not much to see there. A cross of 'Speed Racer' and 'Scooby Doo'.
April 10, 2022
Quite boring.
November 29, 2011
This book was a great surprise to learn about and see that Nancy Drew was carrying on as a graphic novel now. While I wasn't too keen on the art style, I still sucked it up and enjoyed it. The story was good, but Nancy was a bonehead! She was so absent minded and forgetful, this was nothing like the real Nancy Drew in the main series. I was disappointed about that, but it was still a fun read.
One other thing I am wondering about is where the heck is Helen Corning? Nancy seems to only be hanging out with Bess and George now. Don't get me wrong, I like Bess and George, but I liked Helen too.
One other thing I am wondering about is where the heck is Helen Corning? Nancy seems to only be hanging out with Bess and George now. Don't get me wrong, I like Bess and George, but I liked Helen too.
March 3, 2017
I thought I would enjoy reading this book after I enjoyed reading Nancy drew novels when I was little.My assumption was wrong.I hated this book because of the storyline, character development.The images were, however, satisfying but the storyline was horrible, it was somewhat confusing according to me.Nancy was not the character I want to see in this book. I believe that the images looked satisfying but did not really match the storyline which ruined the whole book.People say do not judge a book by its cover.I did not judge the book but it is absolutely horrrible
January 18, 2016
Nancy and the girls see a stage magician perform and Nancy is, of course, noting how the tricks are done. One trick goes awry when the female assistant actually disappears.
Nancy knows that the magician and his assistant have argued so she checks things out and nearly gets eaten by a huge snake. The story revolves around the magician's relationship to the assistant and there's no actual crime here. Overall, it's the weakest story in the manga series so far.
Nancy knows that the magician and his assistant have argued so she checks things out and nearly gets eaten by a huge snake. The story revolves around the magician's relationship to the assistant and there's no actual crime here. Overall, it's the weakest story in the manga series so far.
Read
July 15, 2016Definitely enjoyed this storyline better than Dress Reversal (I loved Bess as a car mechanic and Nancy as the driver), I just wish it had been a stand-alone story (the ending didn't really make sense without having read the previous two volumes).
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews