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Nancy Drew 13: The Mystery of the Ivory Charm
Nancy Drew 13: The Mystery of the Ivory Charm | Carolyn Keene
27 posts | 27 read | 1 reading | 3 to read
What secret life-giving power does the exquisite ivory elephant charm contain? Can the trinket really protect its wearer from all harm? Nancy Drew finds out when the owner of the Bengleton Wild-Animal Show asks her to investigate one of the performers who may be involved in some mysterious illegal scheme.The girl detectives assignment becomes complicated when the elephant trainers young assistant, Rishi, seeks refuge at the Drew home from his cruel foster father, Rai.While following clues to help the boy find his real father, Nancy learns about an eerie abandoned house. She is harassed by its strange owner, Anita Allison, and the fiendish Rai. How Nancy uses the ivory charm, reunites a maharaja with his son, and brings the evildoers to justice will mystify readers from beginning to end.
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review
kwmg40
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Mehso-so

This is the weakest of the Nancy Drew series I've read since starting from the beginning with #NancyDrewBR. It's got a bit of everything -- elephants, a charm with mysterious powers, a kidnapped boy from India -- and most of it unbelievable.

@Librarybelle

Librarybelle It‘s a very weak one. Let‘s hope next month‘s is better! now
8 likes1 comment
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Librarybelle
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Alright #LittenDetectives : It‘s time for our #NancyDrewBR discussion!

I‘ve posted 5 questions as spoilers. You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

Next month‘s book, The Whispering Statue, is another one with big differences between the texts.

In 1937, Nancy finds a statue that supposedly whispers & looks like her.

In 1970, Nancy is involved in a mystery around rare books & a stolen statue.

Librarybelle I‘ll post the official reminder tomorrow! 3h
Bookwormjillk I'm going to look for the 1970 version. 1930's Hannah annoys me. 2h
Laughterhp Oops haven‘t read this months yet. 2h
20 likes3 comments
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Librarybelle
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5. Tunnels, elephants and monkeys gone wild...we have a few instances of Nancy in danger. The professor (at least in 1974) gets clobbered over the head. What did you think of the suspenseful situations in this one?

Personally, I thought the whole story was weak. Even as a young reader, I don't think this would be a favorite of mine. #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead He gets clobbered in 1937 as well, I thought that a lot of the events seemed convenient in this one, and the spacey chick really annoyed me. 3h
Bookwormjillk Yup, took a big hit in 1937 and Coya stopped breathing twice. I agree I don't think I would have liked this as a kid either. 2h
DGRachel I was disappointed that there was no #NNK in this one. The extent of George‘s injuries in the house was troubling to me, although she recovered quickly (oh to be 18 and fictional…) 2h
kwmg40 It surprised me that someone else got knocked on the head in this one! 5m
7 likes4 comments
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Librarybelle
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4. As for characters in this one, Nancy sleuths with her usual crew. She also spends a day with Tommy (at least, in the 1974 edition), and really gets to know Rishi (Coya in 1936). Admittedly, Bess's apprehension kind of annoyed me--it seemed more dire in this one.

Any thoughts on the characters this time? #NancyDrewBR

Bookwormjillk I don't think we had a Tommy. I laughed at one point when Nancy seemed like she might be going into a trance with Ms Allison and Bess and George were like whatever we're going for a walk. 2h
DGRachel Ms Allison was kind of a crack up. I just knew she was up to no good with her theatrics. This one felt like everyone had a bit of a personality breakdown, like when TV writers change mid-series and the new writers basically make new characters out of the old. Also, what would Nancy do without Ned‘s random connections? I admit I kept thinking the professor would somehow be in on the kidnapping. I found him suspicious. 🤨 2h
kwmg40 The characters felt very one-sided in this novel, though Rishi brought some fun into the story. 6m
MariaW Mrs Allison‘s exaggerated behaviour as a medium/enlightened person was kind of funny. I don‘t even think she knew what she was doing all the time, but of course when it came to the confession she was somewhat sober. 🙈 (edited) now
8 likes4 comments
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Librarybelle
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3. Time to take a step back and look at a bigger picture. There are references to Indian culture in this one, and with a storyline based around Rishi's (or Coya's) identity, it's good to get a background on what it means. A link to the Wikipedia entry on Maharaja is in the comments.

Note that when this book was originally published, the British Empire still ruled India; this did not end until 1947. #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle Link to the Maharaja article on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharaja 3h
Bookwormjillk Interesting. Thanks for the background. 2h
DGRachel Ahh…empire and colonization. Thanks for this. I didn‘t realize before this book that it was a title given in each state/district in India as opposed to an overall ruler. 2h
kwmg40 There were definitely some stereotypes and feelings of colonialism in this book. 8m
MariaW Didn‘t you watch Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom? I got my knowledge about maharadschas from this one. 😜 The whole time was thinking, this book would have never been written today. We just have to it keep in mind, when it was written. And overall the Indian culture (even though through stereotypes) was portrayed positively. Rai is negative character, not because he is a foreigner but because his personality is a bad one. now
7 likes5 comments
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Librarybelle
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2. Let's talk plot. What did you think of the story? Personally, I felt it was a bit convoluted! The lost son of a maharaja? A traveling circus and a house that was converted for circus acts? A woman who appears to go into trances? So strange to me!

Any standout moments for you while reading? #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead Yes! So many weird things that didn‘t seem to totally connect. That house was bizarre 3h
Bookwormjillk There was a lot going on here interspersed with random meals. We just stole some papers, let's have a picnic! And a random lunch with the first lady. And they never did explain why the house was set up for circus practice did they. And at one point Nancy was tied up but still managed to point to the bad guy when the police came. 2h
DGRachel I agree with @BarkingMadRead - that house was bizarre. The other standout (and I don‘t know if this gets addressed in another question) was the fact that Rishi gets kidnapped and Nancy‘s all “oh no, I should be worried but there‘s a frat party this weekend and I want to go. How convenient that Ned can introduce me to an Indian man. Maybe he has a clue.” RISHI IS MISSING GIRL AND HE WAS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY! 2h
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BarkingMadRead @DGRachel omg yes! That whole frat thing was insane, and the necklace just happens to get stolen from her while she‘s there, because obviously every other Indian in the states knows each other 🤣 2h
Librarybelle @DGRachel @BarkingMadRead How could I forget that! The boy is missing, and you want to have fun, Nancy??? Really?!? And yes, the necklace is stolen while she is sleeping at the college, which was a way too convenient coincidence??? So weird! 2h
CogsOfEncouragement Yeah, wasted paragraphs telling us about them driving here or there again and again instead of something exciting happening or some detail better explained. 11m
kwmg40 I found the plot convoluted and unbelievable. Had to really suspend disbelief for this one! 10m
MariaW I thought the plot would be okay if it was placed in India or any nearby country and the characters were Indian natives. But being placed in the USA in a small town like River Heights and surroundings was very unlikely. And why would Mrs Allison help to set up an impostor in small, unknown region in Insia? It seemed like they ran out of ideas for the novels. 🙈 now
8 likes9 comments
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Librarybelle
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1. One good thing about this month's book: the revisions are minor! Originally published in 1936, this was written by Mildred Wirt Benson (we've seen her a lot so far on our journey). It was revised in 1974 by Priscilla Baker-Carr (who also worked on several Hardy Boys books).

The 1974 condenses the 1936 edition and changes the name Coya (1936) to Rishi (1974).

Which edition did you read? Overall thoughts? #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead I had 1937, his name was still Coya 3h
BarkingMadRead Also, this was probs it my least fave so far. I was mad at Hannah half the time and the storyline was kind of weak 🙈 3h
DGRachel I had the 1974 edition and I found the whole book lacked the heart of the others. The plots are always ridiculous, but I found no joy reading it. Usually these are good for a laugh or two. 2h
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Bookwormjillk I had 1936 with Coya. I was also mad at Hannah. 2h
CogsOfEncouragement 1974, and I felt this lacked the excitement, special skills, and friendship of the better volumes. 14m
kwmg40 I'd read the 1974 version. 13m
MariaW I‘ve read the 1974 version and thought it was an exciting, but very unlikely story. I mean what‘s the likelihood of a deposed maharadscha to retire to River Heights? 💯 for sure. 😂😂😂 now
9 likes7 comments
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Bookwormjillk
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Mehso-so

I think the ghost writer made a list of everything they thought kids wanted in a mystery and jumbled it all together in this book. What a slog. @Librarybelle #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle Good thought! 3h
34 likes1 comment
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Librarybelle
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Panpan

I agree with @DGRachel …this is my least favorite so far. While it has tunnels and a few hits on the head, this just seemed to lack some of the sparkle in other Nancy Drew books. It also seemed a little convoluted, and I know we have to suspend reality at times with these novels. Younger me did not read this one, and I think younger me would have a similar reaction.

Discussion tomorrow, #LittenDetectives ! #NancyDrewBR

DogMomIrene I‘m watching Castle for comfort. FBI agent tries to demean Rick Castle by referring to him as Nancy Drew and Castle quips back “Is that supposed to be an insult because Nancy Drew solved every case” and it made me think of you guys rereading her legacy of crime solving! 1d
Librarybelle @DogMomIrene Castle is a great show! 1d
Ruthiella I think the ghost writer was just phoning this one in for a paycheck. 🙃 1d
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Bookwormjillk Got about 80 pages in last night and this one is just weird 24h
Librarybelle Good theory, @Ruthiella ! 24h
Librarybelle It gets stranger, @Bookwormjillk ! 24h
julieclair I was debating whether I‘d have time to read this one this month. Now I can‘t decide if I should definitely not bother, or if I definitely should because my curiosity is piqued! 😂 11h
Librarybelle @julieclair 😂 Totally up to you! 11h
TheAromaofBooks All the others I have vaguely remembered when I started reading, but this one seemed completely unfamiliar to me. It definitely felt like the weakest so far in terms of actual plotting - the coincidences were through the roof in this one! 4h
61 likes10 comments
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DebinHawaii
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#LitSolace #Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

My #HyggeHour is hanging out with Nancy for a bit along with some chocolate I picked up in Maui. This one is chocolate, mac nuts, marshmallows & Rice Krispies.😋🍫

I really wish I had tomorrow off but it‘s back to work & another busy week. Health wise, I am feeling better, stronger each day. Mental health wise, I feel like I am going through the motions just to get by. 😵‍💫

TheBookHippie 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 I‘m with ya. Chocolate looks divine. 4d
AllDebooks Lovely chocolate. Hope you feel in a better headspace soon. Maybe a busy week will keep you distracted. x 4d
AllDebooks Maybe give yourself some #hygge space everyday, even if it's just 10 minutes. x 4d
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AnnCrystal 🙏🫂💝. 4d
Lesliereadsalot I have also felt like I‘m just going through the motions, like nobody is hearing me. It‘s tough but you can turn that negativity into positive energy. Focus on your joys and the people who you love and who love you back. You can do it! 🩷 4d
Librarybelle ❤️❤️❤️ 4d
kspenmoll 💖💖 4d
Susanita Yay chocolate! ❤️ 🍫 4d
50 likes8 comments
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DGRachel
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Panpan

It has been next to impossible to read this week, but I picked up the next #nancydrewbr book because I knew I could power through it in about 90 minutes. Sadly, my efforts were not rewarded. Honestly, I think this is my least favorite of the series so far. It‘s filled with annoying characters, and while the plot made me roll my eyes, as usual, it just wasn‘t nearly as much fun. Even Scooter is like “why did we bother?” 😂

TheBookHippie 😝💕🕯️ 5d
Leftcoastzen Cute ! 5d
Ruthiella This one is particularly goofy! 😜 5d
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dabbe #sweetscooter 🖤🐾🖤 5d
Librarybelle Oh dear! I haven‘t started yet! 5d
DGRachel @Librarybelle It‘s probably just me post-apocalyptic election results. I‘ll be interested to see everyone else‘s thoughts on it. 🤓 4d
48 likes6 comments
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AnneCecilie
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#WeeklyForecast

Continue Sovereign #ShardlakeBR

I‘ve just started Aftermath and the tagged book #NancyDrewBR

I started Orbital last night, but I‘m not really feeling it. The winner of the Booker Prize is announced on Tuesday, and if it wins I might pick it up again

Then I‘ll see what I‘m in the mood for

Tamra I really enjoyed Orbital, but I know others haven‘t. 5d
51 likes1 comment
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bookandbedandtea
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It's finally the weekend! Now I can read and enjoy the crazy snowfall we've gotten the last few days. 😊❄️

Librarybelle Wow! 6d
AnnCrystal 💕🤩❄️😍💝. 6d
MaleficentBookDragon I miss snow having moved to Virginia from New York. ❄️ ⛄️ 😿 6d
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LiteraryinPA Snow?? Wow! 6d
bookandbedandtea @MaleficentBookDragon The Navy moved my daughter to Virginia and she misses snow too! People tell her VA has four seasons but that hasn't been her experience. 😉 3d
bookandbedandtea @LiteraryinPA Yes! This much snow was really unusual for us in November. Our substantial storms usually come in late winter. 3d
MaleficentBookDragon @bookandbedandtea I know. It was 58 when I left PA and it was 79 when I got home to Virginia. And I hate heat. 😣 3d
34 likes7 comments
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BarkingMadRead
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Getting ready to read a couple or chapters! #nancydrewbr @Librarybelle

Librarybelle Yay!! 2w
Sace Love that cover! 2w
40 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Librarybelle
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We‘re two weeks away from the next #NancyDrewBR discussion! What is the mystery of the ivory charm? How will Nancy solve the mystery? Let‘s find out, #LittenDetectives ! Discussion on the 15th.

DGRachel I was actually able to get this one from my library! 2w
Ruthiella I do love reading these. So quick! 2w
PurpleyPumpkin Planning to start reading this one this weekend!🤞🏽 2w
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Librarybelle That‘s great, @DGRachel ! 2w
Librarybelle They‘re so much fun, @Ruthiella ! 2w
46 likes6 comments
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LitsyEvents
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Repost for @Librarybelle

#LittenDetectives : Our next Nancy Drew adventure involves an ivory charm (imagine that)!

Thankfully, both versions are similar with a few changes, not like the vastly different plot lines in the last two books!

Discussion will take place on November 15th. Everyone is welcome to join! Please let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the tag list! #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle Thanks for reposting! 1mo
JenlovesJT47 @Librarybelle can you add me to the list please? I‘ve never read any Nancy Drew books but it sounds like fun! Are you reading them in order? 4w
Librarybelle @JenlovesJT47 We are! We started the end of last year and are now up to book 13. 4w
JenlovesJT47 @Librarybelle awesome! I‘m going to start with book 1 and try to catch up ASAP 🤓 4w
34 likes5 comments
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Librarybelle
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#LittenDetectives : Our next Nancy Drew adventure involves an ivory charm (imagine that)!

Thankfully, both versions are similar with a few changes, not like the vastly different plot lines in the last two books!

Discussion will take place on November 15th. Everyone is welcome to join! Please let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the tag list! #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead Woohoo! Can‘t wait to see how many times Nancy bumps that head! 1mo
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DGRachel Yay! My library actually has this one. Fingers crossed my hold comes in on time! 1mo
dabbe I hope it's not going to be about poaching elephants or something of that nature. 😱 1mo
Librarybelle Me too, @dabbe ! 1mo
Ruthiella Looking forward to this! Now we are well into the books I didn‘t read or have access to as child. It‘s an adventure! 1mo
Bookwormjillk I think I have the 1930‘s version of this one too. It‘s a relief to hear they‘re more similar this time! 1mo
Sace Can‘t wait! 1mo
Librarybelle @Ruthiella It definitely is! 1mo
Librarybelle @Bookwormjillk Yes! From what I read, there are some name changes and maybe some slightly condensed scenes, but same storyline. It‘ll make for easier discussions! 1mo
julieclair Oh my, @dabbe , I hadn‘t even thought of that. But given the date this was written, it‘s certainly possible. 😢 1mo
dabbe @Librarybelle 🖤🧡🖤 1mo
dabbe @julieclair 🖤🧡🖤 1mo
Born.A.Reader @Birdwing this is the readalong I was telling you about for Nancy Drew! 3w
Librarybelle @Birdwing You‘re more than welcome to join! Just let me know if you would like to be added to the tag list! 3w
46 likes18 comments
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Eggs
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Pickpick

The wild animal show asks Nancy to investigate one of the performers who may be involved in some mysterious illegal scheme, possibly involving murder…

#Pantone2023
#SeriesLove2023
#MarvellousMarchReadathon Day 6
#MarchMadnessReadathon Day9
#middlegrademarch @megnews

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 2y
TheSpineView You are on a roll! Great job 2y
Eggs @DieAReader 🤗🤗 2y
Eggs @TheSpineView 🤗📚 2y
65 likes4 comments
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BarkingMadRead
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Scored these for $1 each!!

robinb YES!!! 👏👏👏 3y
SRWCF 💯💯💯 3y
quirkyreader Major score🐸 3y
Ruthiella Fantastic! 🤩 Those editions bring back fond memories. 3y
47 likes4 comments
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SilverShanica
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Pickpick

A circus, a child, and a mysterious ivory charm that holds the power of life and death.

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ravenlee
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Panpan

Bah. I hate to give Nancy a pan, but I have to. Blatant racism, a nutty American woman who‘s into Indian mysticism and engineered a revolution in a wealthy Indian province while stealing the maharaja‘s riches AND kidnapping his son, a magic charm that holds the secret of life and death...sorry, too much for me.

Number 13 for #nancydrewchallenge done.

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ravenlee
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“En route” used twice in two pages?

TG789 Oh man this makes me want to read a Nancy drew book! Brings me back to my childhood! 6y
ravenlee @TG789 there‘s a #nancydrewchallenge going on, trying to read all the books this year. GoodReads also has a list of alternate challenges for the titles (for instance, the alternate option for the tagged book is something with a lot of white on the cover). Love to have you join us! 6y
TG789 @ravenlee oh wow!! I‘d love to! 6y
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TG789 What timing for you to answer I just started The Secret of the Old Clock! 6y
TG789 Okay wait- I‘m confused on what to do? Copy and paste the first part? Or just say I want to join? 6y
ravenlee @tg789 it‘s an independent challenge, so we‘re not tracking each other. When I finish one I just use the #nancydrewchallenge in my Litsy post. If you do GoodReads there might be more to it, but I don‘t use it so I don‘t know. 6y
TG789 Ohhhh that‘s where I was confused! PERFECT! Thank you! 6y
28 likes8 comments
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ravenlee

I‘m having real trouble with this one. The stilted speech of the Indian boy, yet his almost-fluency of ideas (does that make sense?) is tough. I usually try to do accents or voices for important characters as I‘m reading to the kiddo, but gave up this one rather than be a caricature. The usual coincidences and suspension of disbelief are causing some strain, too. Definitely not my favorite Nancy.

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Christinak
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Suddenly she became #aware that the ivory charm was no longer around her neck. Had she removed it the previous evening before retiring? She could not remember doing so.
#QuotsyFeb19
#NancyDrew

44 likes1 stack add
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Jess_Read_This
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❤️My newest additions and a few treasures found within.

-photo of owner‘s grandparents?
-Fountain Square State Bank 1945 and 1946 pocket calendar.. and ad for Travelers cheques
-Car dealership phone number: Franklin 4242
-shopping list: peanuts, silk, cotton oils, varnish.

I just love finding treasures in books.

#NancyDrew #Sleuth #GirlsGirl

Lindy I love finding things in books too. Yesterday I found a postcard of Data from Star Trek Next Generation. 😀 7y
rubyslippersreads Lovely books and finds. 😍 7y
Jess_Read_This @Lindy That is just an awesome find. So random and fun! 7y
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Jess_Read_This @rubyslippersreads Thank you!! I just love my Nancy Drew books ❤️📚❤️ 7y
mabell Those are lovely! 7y
EllieDottie I love everything about this post!!! Nancy Drew and the treasure within! 7y
LeahBergen Oooo! I love finding things in books. ❤️❤️ 7y
Jaimelire I love these..lucky you. 😍 7y
batsy Ooh, these covers! Finding stuff in used books is always a pleasure 💜 7y
ValerieAndBooks How fun!! 7y
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VioletBramble
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Unboxing my #1930s #homemadedecades box. I love everything in this box. I read Nancy Drew books when I was younger but I've never read this title. I color to relax so the Wizard of Oz coloring book is great- I really like the poster in the back. My favorite things- the book sleeve and the keychain. So happy I chose Q as my initial. If I had known I was picking a Scrabble tile I would have picked Q, the queen of Scrabble tiles. Thank you.

VioletBramble @mrsamandahood, I tagged you but it didn't work. 7y
mrsamandahood I'm glad you liked everything! When you put Q as an option, I got really excited! One of the most sought after scrabble letters! ☺️☺️☺️ 7y
VioletBramble @mrsamandahood, when I unwrapped it my sister shouted out "Ten points!" LOL. ? 7y
mrsamandahood @VioletBramble I love that! That's awesome 😂☺️ 7y
5 likes4 comments
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JessieHeninger
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Pickpick

#booktober day six #fullofadventure. Loved Nancy Drew as a girl and still do! One of my most prized collections.