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Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew #4
The Cinderella Ballet Mystery
Can Nancy follow the trail of this fairy tale?
Nancy and her friends are going to be in a ballet! After months of taking dance classes, Nancy, George, and Bess will perform in a ballet version of Cinderella! The Clue Crew is excited to wear fancy costumes and dance on a real stage! Nancy's friend Andrea is going to play the part of Cinderella. And she'll wear special glass slippers just like in the fairy tale!
But when the glass slippers disappear, Nancy is determined to help. Can the Clue Crew uncover Cinderella's slippers before the clock strikes show time?
96 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2006
128 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,058 books3,891 followersCarolyn Keene is a writer pen name that was used by many different people- both men and women- over the years. The company that was the creator of the Nancy Drew series, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, hired a variety of writers. For Nancy Drew, the writers used the pseudonym Carolyn Keene to assure anonymity of the creator.
Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.
Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.
Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.
Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 3, 2022
2.5
does this series not have villains??? i want danger
does this series not have villains??? i want danger
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2025
Homeschool Read Aloud - my 5 and 3 year old LOVED it!
November 14, 2011
For some inexplicable reason, Malcolm was enthralled by this. We read the whole thing in one sitting. Ugh.
Malcom says, " I like clues because they're part of the mystery and I like Nancy Drew because the first time I read Nancy Drew there was kind of like a banshee kind of thing."
Malcom says, " I like clues because they're part of the mystery and I like Nancy Drew because the first time I read Nancy Drew there was kind of like a banshee kind of thing."
February 19, 2022
Another cute Nancy Drew caper! Nancy and her friends, Bess & George, aka the Clue Crew are rehearsing for the ballet, Cinderella. The girls are super excited but there has been a bit of drama at the rehearsal between practical jokes and tears of envy. In the midst of this drama, a beautiful pair of ballet slippers, Cinderella's slippers, have gone missing. The Clue Crew rushes to save the day and the ballet by finding the slippers and the culprit behind the missing slippers. Adorable illustrations, cute chapter titles, and creative activities at the end of the book make this a win for young readers.
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July 7, 2024
Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew are on the case again.
This time their ballet class is rehearsing for a Cinderella concert.
Mr McGuire runs the dance studio. Nancy, George, and Bess learn ballet with others from their school too. Some are from other schools. Deidre is there with her camera taking photos for her website. Gregory is a joker in the class, he is also the Prince in the show.
Ms Zelda, the costume maker, shows them the special slippers they'd ordered for the show. It was Tuesday night and the final two rehearsals would be Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday would be the dress rehearsal.
Autumn Gooden was to be Cinderella but she had an accident and is being replaced by her understudy Andrea. Nadine had auditioned to be Cinderella and she was cross when Andrea was announced.
Wednesday the glass slippers were missing. Could the Clue Crew find them before Saturday's show?
This time their ballet class is rehearsing for a Cinderella concert.
Mr McGuire runs the dance studio. Nancy, George, and Bess learn ballet with others from their school too. Some are from other schools. Deidre is there with her camera taking photos for her website. Gregory is a joker in the class, he is also the Prince in the show.
Ms Zelda, the costume maker, shows them the special slippers they'd ordered for the show. It was Tuesday night and the final two rehearsals would be Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday would be the dress rehearsal.
Autumn Gooden was to be Cinderella but she had an accident and is being replaced by her understudy Andrea. Nadine had auditioned to be Cinderella and she was cross when Andrea was announced.
Wednesday the glass slippers were missing. Could the Clue Crew find them before Saturday's show?
September 13, 2008
It wasn't really a mystery. There was a guy in their class that did practical jokes, and he hid the ballet slippers. The clue crew helped out and found the slippers just in time.
September 8, 2008
I like that I learned more about the characters and how they take ballet classes together.
November 3, 2011
This was a bit too gender specific for a class. The plot was a bit slow and the ending was anticlimactic. Not the best in the series, but a dedicated reader of the clue crew will still enjoy it.
December 13, 2021
After months of taking dance classes, Nancy, George, and Bess will perform in a ballet version of Cinderella! The Clue Crew is excited to wear fancy costumes and dance on a real stage! Nancy's friend Andrea is going to play the part of Cinderella. And she'll wear special glass slippers just like in the fairy tale!
So instead of clear ones, they got black glass slippers to wear and their uniforms are most attractive for young girls to wear.
To learn more about the history of Nancy Drew, I started doing some research. I've quoted what I found as it is quite interesting: Now the Clue Crew, are most determined to find the slippers before show time: "The idea of Nancy Drew came from Edward Stratemeyer in 1929. He also had other series, that included the Hardy Boys, but he died in 1930 before the Nancy Drew series became famous. His daughters, Harriet and Edna, inherited his company and maintained Nancy Drew having Mildred Wirt Benson, the original Carolyn Keene, as the principal ghostwriter. During the Depression, they asked Benson to take a pay cut and she refused, which is when Karig wrote the books. Karig's Nancy Drew books were Nancy's Mysterious Letter, The Sign of the Twisted Candles, and Password to Larkspur Lane. He was fired from writing more books because of his refusal to honor the request that he keep his work as Carolyn Keene a secret. He allowed the Library of Congress to learn of his authorship and his name appeared on their catalog cards. Afterwards, they rehired Benson and she wrote until her last Nancy Drew book (#30) was written in 1953, Clue of the Velvet Mask.
Harriet and Edna Stratemeyer also contributed to the Nancy Drew series. Edna wrote plot outlines for several of the early books and Harriet, who claimed to be the sole author, had actually outlined and edited nearly all the volumes written by Benson. The Stratemeyer Syndicate had begun to make its writers sign contracts that prohibited them from claiming any credit for their works, but Benson never denied her writing books for the series.
After Harriet's death in 1982, Simon and Schuster became the owners of the Stratemeyer Syndicate properties and in 1994, publicly recognized Benson for her work at a Nancy Drew conference at her alma mater, the University of Iowa. Now, Nancy Drew has several ghostwriters and artists that have contributed to her more recent incarnations. Carolyn Keene was the pseudonym that Mildred Wirt Benson and Walter Karig used to write Nancy Drew Books.
So the evening after their practice, they went over to Nancy's house to review the case. They are wondering about Gregory if he took a rhinestone. A piece of paper with the same fancy handwriting that was on their invitations. The Home Page that had Dierdre's story written in their paper. Nancy noticed something strange. What is wrong with this picture? It's a photo of the slippers. it turns out that they are not glass, but a special plastic that doesn't fracture so easily. It appears they were taken outside, and they think it could be her. They blew the picture up about 150+ %.
When the glass slippers disappear, Nancy is determined to help. Can the Clue Crew uncover Cinderella's slipper before the clock strikes show time. The paper that had "talle 35" on it and wanting to know what it meant, she found out it was French for a size 4 girl's shoe.
Gregory and Scruffy took and hid the slippers, yet lost them. They had a rhinestone on them. They let Scruffy smell it and use his awesome use of smell to help him. Where did you hide them? In a giant icecream sundae (wood) from the Nutcracker. "I know said Nancy. Follow me." It was in the attic, and they found them there.
I'm having fun with these. Fun story, recommend. Even though they are written for kids age 5-10, some 6 times older enjoys them too.
So instead of clear ones, they got black glass slippers to wear and their uniforms are most attractive for young girls to wear.
To learn more about the history of Nancy Drew, I started doing some research. I've quoted what I found as it is quite interesting: Now the Clue Crew, are most determined to find the slippers before show time: "The idea of Nancy Drew came from Edward Stratemeyer in 1929. He also had other series, that included the Hardy Boys, but he died in 1930 before the Nancy Drew series became famous. His daughters, Harriet and Edna, inherited his company and maintained Nancy Drew having Mildred Wirt Benson, the original Carolyn Keene, as the principal ghostwriter. During the Depression, they asked Benson to take a pay cut and she refused, which is when Karig wrote the books. Karig's Nancy Drew books were Nancy's Mysterious Letter, The Sign of the Twisted Candles, and Password to Larkspur Lane. He was fired from writing more books because of his refusal to honor the request that he keep his work as Carolyn Keene a secret. He allowed the Library of Congress to learn of his authorship and his name appeared on their catalog cards. Afterwards, they rehired Benson and she wrote until her last Nancy Drew book (#30) was written in 1953, Clue of the Velvet Mask.
Harriet and Edna Stratemeyer also contributed to the Nancy Drew series. Edna wrote plot outlines for several of the early books and Harriet, who claimed to be the sole author, had actually outlined and edited nearly all the volumes written by Benson. The Stratemeyer Syndicate had begun to make its writers sign contracts that prohibited them from claiming any credit for their works, but Benson never denied her writing books for the series.
After Harriet's death in 1982, Simon and Schuster became the owners of the Stratemeyer Syndicate properties and in 1994, publicly recognized Benson for her work at a Nancy Drew conference at her alma mater, the University of Iowa. Now, Nancy Drew has several ghostwriters and artists that have contributed to her more recent incarnations. Carolyn Keene was the pseudonym that Mildred Wirt Benson and Walter Karig used to write Nancy Drew Books.
So the evening after their practice, they went over to Nancy's house to review the case. They are wondering about Gregory if he took a rhinestone. A piece of paper with the same fancy handwriting that was on their invitations. The Home Page that had Dierdre's story written in their paper. Nancy noticed something strange. What is wrong with this picture? It's a photo of the slippers. it turns out that they are not glass, but a special plastic that doesn't fracture so easily. It appears they were taken outside, and they think it could be her. They blew the picture up about 150+ %.
When the glass slippers disappear, Nancy is determined to help. Can the Clue Crew uncover Cinderella's slipper before the clock strikes show time. The paper that had "talle 35" on it and wanting to know what it meant, she found out it was French for a size 4 girl's shoe.
Gregory and Scruffy took and hid the slippers, yet lost them. They had a rhinestone on them. They let Scruffy smell it and use his awesome use of smell to help him. Where did you hide them? In a giant icecream sundae (wood) from the Nutcracker. "I know said Nancy. Follow me." It was in the attic, and they found them there.
I'm having fun with these. Fun story, recommend. Even though they are written for kids age 5-10, some 6 times older enjoys them too.
September 12, 2021
Reviewed by my 7-year old with spoilers: It was exciting when Nancy, Bess and George found the first clue and they kept on finding clues to the person that stole the ballet slippers. (And by the way, there is somebody named Gregory and he made bad jokes at the ballet. One time, Bess almost ate a fake cookie that Gregory said his mom made.) Mr. McGuire, the dance teacher, thought that Gregory stole the glass slippers for the Cinderella ballet.
***Spoiler alert*** When Nancy was getting ready for the Cinderella ballet, a lady told her that she moved some of the Nutcracker props to the attic. And finally, Gregory told Nancy, Bess and George that he hid the ballet slippers on a little ledge in the back of the sundae. But, when Gregory tried to find the ballet slippers again, he couldn’t find it. But, Nancy knew where the sundae was so they went up the stairs and Nancy saw a lot of stuff in the attic and soon they found the sundae and in back of it was a ledge, which was more like a nook, and there were the glass slippers. Dun, dun, dun…
***Spoiler alert*** When Nancy was getting ready for the Cinderella ballet, a lady told her that she moved some of the Nutcracker props to the attic. And finally, Gregory told Nancy, Bess and George that he hid the ballet slippers on a little ledge in the back of the sundae. But, when Gregory tried to find the ballet slippers again, he couldn’t find it. But, Nancy knew where the sundae was so they went up the stairs and Nancy saw a lot of stuff in the attic and soon they found the sundae and in back of it was a ledge, which was more like a nook, and there were the glass slippers. Dun, dun, dun…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2023
Copyright date: 2006
Star rating: 3
Award: N/A
Genre: Mystery
Summary w/ themes: Nancy and her friends are preparing for the ballet of Cinderella, and Cinderella's shoes go missing! after a few suspects they finally found where the shoes were hiding, and dance gracefully just a bit later. This book has themes of Finding clues and being honest and open with the people around you.
Use for future classroom: This book would probably just be a good book to have on a bookshelf. It is mostly for entertainment, as this book is part of a series of a bunch of mysteries that Nancy and her friends solve.
Thoughts of book: I thought this book was okay. It is a good introduction to chapter books and does a good job explaining ballet vocabulary that students might not know about unless they take ballet. It is quite short and simple as well.
Star rating: 3
Award: N/A
Genre: Mystery
Summary w/ themes: Nancy and her friends are preparing for the ballet of Cinderella, and Cinderella's shoes go missing! after a few suspects they finally found where the shoes were hiding, and dance gracefully just a bit later. This book has themes of Finding clues and being honest and open with the people around you.
Use for future classroom: This book would probably just be a good book to have on a bookshelf. It is mostly for entertainment, as this book is part of a series of a bunch of mysteries that Nancy and her friends solve.
Thoughts of book: I thought this book was okay. It is a good introduction to chapter books and does a good job explaining ballet vocabulary that students might not know about unless they take ballet. It is quite short and simple as well.
June 28, 2023
Another nice kid-sized mystery from kid-sized Nancy Drew! I love the gentle progression that lets readers try to solve the mystery themselves, although I'm not sure this one is so easy as that to guess. Well, I mean it's always possible to GUESS and HAPPEN to guess correctly, but working out the motive isn't quite that simple.
Still a fun read! Recommended for young fans of Nancy Drew and ballet! (Older readers can enjoy it, too!)
Still a fun read! Recommended for young fans of Nancy Drew and ballet! (Older readers can enjoy it, too!)
January 14, 2025
I like these books, but I don't know that I'm enjoying binging them. In this one, the girls are about to have a ballet recital of Cinderella. The teacher orders some special slippers that are supposed to look like glass and they go missing. Nancy and her crew have to figure out whodunnit. Again, it was a series of mishaps and miscommunications, though there were more guilty parties in this one than before. Overall, a cute read that kept us guessing.
May 1, 2018
Miss 3 only listened to a chapter or so and then just glanced at the pictures (although she was trying to do ballet later that day!). I read the rest to myself; I loved Nancy Drew as a kid and these short versions with 8 year old Nancy are quick to read. Funny seeing how they've updated the tech from notebooks to cellphones and laptops :P
April 7, 2020
The book has the perfect combination of mystery and great adventures. The book tells the story of Nancy and her friends with a new mystery. In this case, a glass slippers have disappeared. The book can be use to introduce mystery in the classroom as well as many important detectives. The book can become a class shared reading and students can be introduced to the exciting stories of Nancy Drew.
January 17, 2023
I just finished reading the book and it was very good I recommend reading this book when you are
6-8 years old. I found the book very interesting and I would recommend to anyone who likes detective books. I really like the series and read them quite often. Would definitely recommend.
6-8 years old. I found the book very interesting and I would recommend to anyone who likes detective books. I really like the series and read them quite often. Would definitely recommend.
July 7, 2023
I am not the target reader for this book but it's a cute book for beginner mystery readers. The previous book I read in this series was a bit better than this one but I still recommend this one for elementary age readers.
October 7, 2025
I wanted to like this book. What's not to like? Nancy Drew and ballet seem like a perfect combination. Perhaps I would enjoy this book more if I read it rather than listen to it. The whiny drama queens got on my nerves.
July 1, 2019
I loved this book. It was cool. It makes you want to keep on reading.
May 24, 2020
The girls liked it but not as much as #5.
June 26, 2020
This series is just so adorable!
Read
September 28, 2020I liked it.
I love this little mystery books.
There so fun!!
I love this little mystery books.
There so fun!!
November 10, 2020
love it!!
Read
June 30, 2021vid borrowed the book so i read it
October 2, 2021
Another cute entry in this series. It's a hit with my girls, 5 and 7. Enough intrigue to interest the older one, but fun enough to keep the younger one engaged. Recommend.
January 15, 2022
The culprit was so obviously guilty from the start and they even had evidence against them, but they didn’t really interrogate him until the very end??
November 13, 2023
Another fun adventure from the Clue Crew. This time, we almost solved the mystery. So close.
February 5, 2024
SO GOOD
June 2, 2024
I liked this one too. The mystery felt shorter but the book also felt different from the others.
July 11, 2024
Very cute story! Nancy is so encouraging! I want to be like her when I grow up. :)
Things to be aware of in "The Cinderella Ballet Mystery:"
Language:
-1 "stupid"
Things to be aware of in "The Cinderella Ballet Mystery:"
Language:
-1 "stupid"
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews