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Nancy Drew: Notebooks #49
The Sand Castle Mystery
IS THIS CONTEST BEILDING UP TO A BIG LETDOWN? While vacationing at a lake, Nancy, Bess, and George have their eyes on first prize in the annual sand castle contest. They use special colored sand and carefully build the castle to look like the ones they researched at the library. If the girls win, they'll get their picture in the local paper and all the ice cream they can eat. But before judging begins, someone wrecks the girls' castle and writes a mean message in the sand. Nancy and her friends will have to dig deep to get back into the contest before it's too late!
80 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2002
2 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,058 books3,924 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 13, 2021
2.5
nothing special at all but i needed a nancy drew fix
nothing special at all but i needed a nancy drew fix
December 20, 2017
While I've heard of Nancy Drew many times, this was my first time reading/listening to one of the books. The story was exciting for the kids and somewhat interesting for adults. I thought the story taught valuable lessons about friendship, honesty and celebrating one another's victories. I would definitely consider listening to other books from this series.
July 13, 2022
Kids liked the mystery.
August 19, 2022
Cute story
September 24, 2023
I listened to this and it was adorable.
May 11, 2024
I can't believe I actually encountered an instance of "Maybe the real treasure was the friends we made along the way" out in the wild like that.
February 6, 2025
This wasn't as voicey and fun as the Clue Crew books, but it was a perfectly solid young reader mystery.
July 14, 2013
The Sand Castle Mystery.
By Carolyn Keene. Illustrated by Paul Casale. Aladdin Paperbacks/Simon & Schuster, 2002. 80 pages.
Genre: Mystery
Recommended age level: Lower elementary (6-9 years)
Series information: The Nancy Drew Notebooks: Ready-for-Chapters
Subjects/Themes: friendship, forgiveness, honesty, problem-solving
While on summer vacation at a lake, 8-year old Nancy and her friends, George and Bess, enter the annual sand castle contest. Before they can finish their beautiful sand castle, someone wrecks it and leaves a rude message in the sand. Nancy and her friends must work hard to uncover clues that will solve this mystery before the judging begins!
Having grown up reading the original Nancy Drew mystery novels, I was excited to discover this transitional series for early readers. With its simple language, beautiful illustrations, and endearing characters, I'm sure that young girls would be drawn to this book and wish to explore more of the series. Though the story ends with more clichés than is easy to stomach, I appreciate the efforts at teaching about the importance of honesty and forgiveness. It's really a wonderful beginner chapter book for young readers to enjoy.
Genre: Mystery
Recommended age level: Lower elementary (6-9 years)
Series information: The Nancy Drew Notebooks: Ready-for-Chapters
Subjects/Themes: friendship, forgiveness, honesty, problem-solving
While on summer vacation at a lake, 8-year old Nancy and her friends, George and Bess, enter the annual sand castle contest. Before they can finish their beautiful sand castle, someone wrecks it and leaves a rude message in the sand. Nancy and her friends must work hard to uncover clues that will solve this mystery before the judging begins!
Having grown up reading the original Nancy Drew mystery novels, I was excited to discover this transitional series for early readers. With its simple language, beautiful illustrations, and endearing characters, I'm sure that young girls would be drawn to this book and wish to explore more of the series. Though the story ends with more clichés than is easy to stomach, I appreciate the efforts at teaching about the importance of honesty and forgiveness. It's really a wonderful beginner chapter book for young readers to enjoy.
January 8, 2016
Nancy, Bess and George are at Echo Lake for a vacation with Nancy's Dad.
There's all the summer fun you could imagine, plus the most exciting of all -- a sandcastle building contest. The contest is held every year, and everyone is welcome to enter... But, somebody doesn't want Nancy and her friends to enter, because they aren't locals.
When things start happening to ruin the castle that Nancy Drew and her friends researched and worked so hard to create, there's an ever-growing and changing list of suspects!
Carolyn Keene has produced another mystery that will enthrall her young fans. It's as much fun as a day at the beach!
There's all the summer fun you could imagine, plus the most exciting of all -- a sandcastle building contest. The contest is held every year, and everyone is welcome to enter... But, somebody doesn't want Nancy and her friends to enter, because they aren't locals.
When things start happening to ruin the castle that Nancy Drew and her friends researched and worked so hard to create, there's an ever-growing and changing list of suspects!
Carolyn Keene has produced another mystery that will enthrall her young fans. It's as much fun as a day at the beach!
August 4, 2011
Fun, quick read and well-appreciated by my kids who like to hear something more light-hearted in the car on occasion. My daughter is 7 and likes Nancy Drew, particularly the version found in the Clue Crew books but the Notebooks interest her as well, probably because of the age similarity. The narrator does an excellent job portraying the younger children and the culprit was a surprise to us all.
August 19, 2008
My girls love these books but the audio books are a bit much for adults to enjoy. Too juvenile.
July 30, 2014
I think Nancy Drew is a good detective.I like how she and her best friends used colored sand to build their sand castle.I've never thought of sticking seashells in sand castles as decoration.
July 22, 2015
I liked the book because i love mysteries,and Nancy Drew.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews