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Nancy Drew Clue Book #4
Big Top Flop
Help Nancy and her friends track down the crafty clown who stole George’s junior ringmaster whistle in the fourth book in an all-new, interactive Nancy Drew chapter book mystery series. Includes space for readers to jot down their own ideas and solutions to the case!The Bingle and Bumble Circus is coming to River Heights, and Nancy, Bess, and George are super excited to see the clowns, animals, and acrobats. But most of all, they’re excited about the Junior Ringmaster whistling contest! To win, all they have to do is be the kid who whistles the loudest and the longest. The winner of the contest will get to be Junior Ringmaster at the circus’s opening night and they’ll get a shiny silver whistle as a prize! After George wins, her friends can’t wait to see her in the show. But when the time comes, she blows and blows her whistle…and nothing comes out. When she checks her whistle, George realizes that it was switched with a broken one! Will Nancy and her friends find the whistle-snatcher before the circus leaves town?
97 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2016
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,146 books4,001 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 2, 2016
The fourth book, and also the last one in my boxset. While I did like it, there were things I just didn’t like.
For instance how the circus treated George when her whistle didn’t blow. They didn’t give her a second chance immediately after, they laughed at her, made fun, didn’t even try to help her out. I think that is really immature, and also pretty rude. If it was a kid’s circus I might have forgiven them, because kids can act like this at times, but a circus full of adults? No. Just no. So instead of enjoying the book and the whodunnit, I was mostly frustrated at the adults.
Of course the whodunnit was also fun, but I do have to say I was really disappointed with the outcome and what had happened. I had expected something grand and exciting, but it turned out to be that. Bah.
Miles was also just way to annoying and cocky. I hated how he acted, and also near the end what he did there. That is just a no-no.
But even with all those points, I did like the book and the circus. It is an old-fashioned circus, one you sadly won’t see any more. With animals of all sizes and sorts. Sadly, these days that just isn’t allowed any more. I am so glad that when I was a kid circuses still had animals, it just made things way more fun, and the animals were often still well taken care of (sure, I know the stories, there were enough circuses not taking care of their animals, but still I am sad that every animal had to leave).
I did like that we saw Nancy’s dad, and also Hannah. They are great characters, and I love how Nancy’s dad is so supportive of what she does, and wants to do. Even providing with tips and hints.
I did like the illustrations, though again the proportions of humans, but also objects is something that the artist needs to think about.
I do hope the next book will be better again.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
For instance how the circus treated George when her whistle didn’t blow. They didn’t give her a second chance immediately after, they laughed at her, made fun, didn’t even try to help her out. I think that is really immature, and also pretty rude. If it was a kid’s circus I might have forgiven them, because kids can act like this at times, but a circus full of adults? No. Just no. So instead of enjoying the book and the whodunnit, I was mostly frustrated at the adults.
Of course the whodunnit was also fun, but I do have to say I was really disappointed with the outcome and what had happened. I had expected something grand and exciting, but it turned out to be that. Bah.
Miles was also just way to annoying and cocky. I hated how he acted, and also near the end what he did there. That is just a no-no.
But even with all those points, I did like the book and the circus. It is an old-fashioned circus, one you sadly won’t see any more. With animals of all sizes and sorts. Sadly, these days that just isn’t allowed any more. I am so glad that when I was a kid circuses still had animals, it just made things way more fun, and the animals were often still well taken care of (sure, I know the stories, there were enough circuses not taking care of their animals, but still I am sad that every animal had to leave).
I did like that we saw Nancy’s dad, and also Hannah. They are great characters, and I love how Nancy’s dad is so supportive of what she does, and wants to do. Even providing with tips and hints.
I did like the illustrations, though again the proportions of humans, but also objects is something that the artist needs to think about.
I do hope the next book will be better again.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
December 29, 2023
This Nancy drew book is okay. I like it. But I don’t like it.
I don’t think that I would read another book.
and I’m Lennon paisley stoneback.
💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩and I’m a kid 👧🏻.
I don’t think that I would read another book.
and I’m Lennon paisley stoneback.
💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩and I’m a kid 👧🏻.
December 13, 2017
Not bad but rather silly. I don't think I'll be reading any more of the Clue Crew line of books.
March 12, 2022
Cute as always!
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August 7, 2024Read with Amelia
January 7, 2025
Another cute mystery for young readers
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews