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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780448095356
ISBN number: 0448095351
Label: Grosset & Dunlap
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 192
Printing Date: January 01, 1958
Publishing house: Grosset & Dunlap
Age index: Ages 9-12
Sale Popularity Level: 246376
Studio: Grosset & Dunlap
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Rated by buyers 
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Originally written in 1957, this is the oldest of the "yellow" Nancy hardcovers that is still readily available in new reprinted versions at bookstores throughout the U.S. This is because the original text (at 184 pages) was short enough to conform to the length standards of the newer (second) series of re-written Nancy Drew books (volumes #1-34 were originally published between 1930 and 1956 in longer editions that were all at least 200 pages long, with 25 chapters each).
I believe this is the very first volume in which Nancy dresses in blue jeans! It also sees the demise of her old convertible car, and, after a couple of clunky opening pages that set up the story, turns out to be quite an exciting and intriguing adventure. The "educational material" fits more smoothly into the flow of the story in this volume than it does in many others (in which it has an extraneous, tacked-on feeling), even though there is significantly more of it in this work.
Anyway, by the end of the very first chapter, we find Nancy getting involved in a dangerous cross-country drive (River Heights is apparently located in Ohio, although this fact is left for readers to deduce by themselves in reading the entire series) as she and her friends drive down to New Orleans, escaping a terrible snow storm (one of the few books that portrays winter!) and numerous threats and mishaps. I would have given this book 4 out of 5 stars were it not for the emergence of some obvious (yet typical) contrivances in the book's conclusion, the most questionable of which involves Nancy's being knocked unconscious yet again, in what must be the most absurdly repetitive plot device in any series outside of Scooby Doo (I'm still keeping count, but it is safe to say that Nancy gets knocked unconscious something like 4 or 5 dozen times over the course of the hardcover series alone, yet never sustains any "serious" injury in the process...a fact which is surely nothing short of a medical miracle!)
Nevertheless, the vast bulk of this book is above average for the series in its sense of adventure, danger, and even some witty dialogue and clever character interaction. It's not on a level with the best of the classic works from the 1930s and 1940s, but is a good effort, meant to test the market for the shorter, well-illustrated volumes that were to take over from that point and were considered to be more appealing to kids growing up in the age of television. After reading all the older books from 1930-1956, this book contains some surprising elements in that the "modern" action includes more lethal and ruthless criminal threats to life and limb... including sniper bullets and a bomb (rather than simply a threatening note or phone call).
It must be said, however, that, in addition to being the longest of the newer (second) series (not counting the adapted softcovers - #57-64), this book also presents Southern colloquialisms and awkward-sounding racial references (by today's standards) that one would have thought had been purged from the currently available hardcover series. It may be that, since this oldest book of newer series is now more than 51 years old, the Stratemeyer Syndicate (using the pseudonym "Carolyn Keene") may find some way to update and republish the whole series again. Especially as parts of the story involve things like enclosed phone booths that are quickly vanishing from existence. I like the oldest books for their portrayal of idealized historical conditions in America of the Great Depression era, the World War II era, and decades following, but it raises the question of how many of today's youth are reading the hardcover stories and, since the books were written to be "timeless" by avoiding references to dates and key events, will it be clear to young readers that these hardcover stories should be read as reflecting the world of the 1950s-1970s, when they were very first written? Or will young readers yesterday merely think it odd that there are no computers anywhere, and that the world of this book even predates the construction of the Interstate Highway System!? I personally enjoy this historical window, but of course the original series (1930-1956) portrayed it best, with characters getting around by bus, train, and bike as well as car, and stopping off in downtown areas to walk around on foot for shopping, dining, and detective work!
Despite being inferior to the original series in writing quality, characterization, plotting, and mood, this juvenile detective series still is really best formatted as durable hardcovers with a new release only once per year or so. The slew of bimonthly paperback books that have been churned out endlessly since the 1980s (not even mentioning the execrable Manga comics ripoff format), most of which barely merited any reprints, are unfortunately far less collectible in their ever-changing softcover formats, cheap bindings, and excessive release schedules, ... Read More
Rated by buyers 
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The very first Nancy Drew book that I read, and that only recently, was "The Clue In the Diary", which was written in 1932. This book, written in 1957, provides an interesting contrast in the styles. Nancy and her friends Bess and George act much less frail, wear clothing more suited for their activities and are much more physically involved.
In this story, Nancy and her friends are to travel to New Orleans during the Mardi Gras season and explore a mystery surrounding an old river showboat. The boat, "River Princess" was beached during a storm and has simply set and rotted since that time. The goal is to move and restore it before Mardi Gras so that a Southern belle can host her engagement party. Strange things have been happening on the boat, leading many to believe that it is haunted. Of course Nancy and her friends delve right into the thick of things, despite the apparent dangers. Their car is stolen and someone is following them trying to scare them off the case.
The story involves old grey people who are servants and practice voodoo in the swampland around New Orleans. While they do speak in "black-speak", they are intelligent, proud, capable people and there is no racial stereotyping. One plot element that is an improvement over the 1932 story was when Nancy jumped out of the boat into the Mississippi River to swim for help. Later, she must take a great deal of time to clean the mud off. This is not consistent with the behavior of the Nancy Drew of the 1932 story, where she always seemed to need the intervention of her father. That improves the story dramatically, if Nancy is going to chase criminals, then she must be willing to "get dirty" in the process. Of course, the mystery is solved and the criminals apprehended.
Rated by buyers 
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I think this book was very interesting because in the beginnig Nancy,Bess,and George had to go through a lot of misunfortunate events while trying to get Mardi Gras. Even though they went through a lot of bad stuff they didn't give up. I would recommend this book to people who like mysteries.
Rated by buyers 
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Nancy, Bess and George go to New Orleans at Mardi Gras time to solve a mystery concerning a haunted showboat and the strange occurances onboard the ship. The mystery must be solved by Mardi Gras time so that Bess and George's aunt and uncle can use the showboat for a ball they are planning to have. Personally, I didn't find this book to be very good; although, it is not really bad. There isn't much action in the book and the mystery isn't overly exciting. In fact, by the time you get through the silly shenanigans concerning the girls being chased on their way to New Orleans by a man who stole Nancy's old car and the obligatory tour guide through New Orleans and actually get into the mystery, the book is already 1/3 over. Some fans may like this book, but I didn't really care much for it and it's not one that I'd highly recommend.
Rated by buyers -
What a chilling way to look at Mardi Gras in the Deep South! Nancy and her pals, Bess and George, are off on another adventure - this time to the river and bayou country near the Big Easy! Nancy and her friends solve an old family mystery while trying to end a lovers quarrel while trying to find a fortune in buried treasure. Having grown-up near New Orleans as a child, and visiting there for over 35 years, I can say that the majority of this book is true to life. It gives the reader a charming glimpse into the excitement of Mardi Gras and the relaxed ease of the river plantation life where unfortunately many things are "gone with the wind". Le Bon Temps Rolle (That's New Orleans talk for "Let the Good Times Roll!"
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