ravinlunachick Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 DD had no luck at the library today. She wants a book, preferably a series, of mystery novels featuring, in her words, "a girl detective." She has enjoyed the Boxcar Children books in the past, but rejected Nancy Drew when I suggested it today. The librarian was of no help. :glare: TIA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petepie2 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 American Girl has a mystery series, but I don't know if they meet the criteria for "girl detective".....My DD is all about some Nancy Drew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Trixie Belden- I LOVED these in about 4th and 5th grade. In fact, my friends and I wrote three Trixie Belden plays and produced them at school. :) Cam Jansen is a girl, but those might be lower reading level (I haven't read them myself so not sure) I think American Girl has two series of mysteries: History Mysteries and Historical Character Mysteries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrn Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Another vote for Trixie Belden! They were my favorite! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiberia Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 My 4th Grade dd LOVES the Sisters Grimm series. They are mysteries with girl detectives; funny and exciting. My daughter is standing over my shoulder telling me to strongly recommend them! Our library had them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan in SC Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Trixie Belden!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravinlunachick Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 I had forgotten all about both Trixie Belden and the Sisters Grimm! I enjoyed Trixie when I was around dd's age, and we read the first Sisters Grimm novel a year or so ago. Thanks for the suggestions. :) Alas, (but not for my pocketbook!) dd rejects all things American Girl for her own mysterious reasons, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freesia Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Another vote for Trixie Belden! They were my favorite!yes, yes, yes Mine, too! I have 27 of them under my 4yo's bed. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Just so y'all know...Brian Belden is mine. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freesia Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Just so y'all know...Brian Belden is mine. :DThat's okay--I'll take Jim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 My dd has loved Trixie Belden, and I have loved rereading them. And I'll take Dan. He was the bad boy of the group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 but rejected Nancy Drew Has she tried the old Nancy Drews? They read quite differently. http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Tree-Symbol-Nancy-Drew/dp/B00AKH7UQK/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394147043&sr=1-6&keywords=nancy+drew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I remember reading Meg books as a kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan in SC Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I remember reading Meg books as a kid. I loved the Williamsburg book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Kay Tracey. http://www.series-books.com/kaytracey/kaytracey3.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I remember enjoying the Dana Girls when I was a girl. They were Nancy-Drew era detectives. Maybe even by the same author, I can't remember! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Sammy Keyes series by Wendelin Van Draanen Herculeah Jones by Betsy Byars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 The Dana Girls are also by Garolyn Keene (who was actually many writers) http://www.amazon.com/GHOST-GALLERY-DANA-GIRLS-MYSTERY/dp/B000IAX5MC/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394149595&sr=1-2&keywords=dana+girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I can't speak from experience, but I've heard good things about these books: Enola Holmes series by Nancy Springer and Echo Falls series by Peter Abrahams Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 An interesting article with some recommendations. And another good article. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunflowerlady Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I remember reading books about a girl called Donna Parker. Probably published in about the same era as the original Nancy Drew books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravinlunachick Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 Wow, thank y'all for the suggestions. I knew I could count on The Hive! :D Has she tried the old Nancy Drews? They read quite differently. http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Tree-Symbol-Nancy-Drew/dp/B00AKH7UQK/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394147043&sr=1-6&keywords=nancy+drew No, she hasn't tried any of the classics yet. She has given up on a few of the more recent ones, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cammie Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 We loved the three books by Blue Balliet in the Chasing Vermeer series - they feature a girl and (2?) boys who are friends who solve mysteries. We also liked the Enola Holmes (Sherlock's younger sister) books and the Kit Salter adventures (Egyptology and mysteries!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 How about the Betsy-Tacey series? She's not a detective, but I adored those books as a young girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 The Famous Five? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 I can't speak from experience, but I've heard good things about these books: Enola Holmes series by Nancy Springer and Echo Falls series by Peter Abrahams Regards, Kareni Echo Falls is definitely YA. I've only read a couple of them but they feel geared to older kids. The characters swear--F word among them--and in one of the books (can't remember which) one character is suspected of doing drugs; it's key to the plot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freesia Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 The Famous Five?And The Secret Seven, both by Enid Blyton I loved these, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 DD liked Sammy Keys and The Mysterious Benedict Society Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 So, for all you Trixie fans out there...who still remembers that scene where Jim gives Trixie that charm bracelet and tells her she's his "special girl"? *swoon*. And then they...gasp...held hands for the rest of the plane ride home! My little ten year old heart was all aflutter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 The Sherlock Files series by Tracy Barrett has a brother/sister pair solving mysteries. The 100-Year-Old Secret is the first one. For about 6th grade & up, I highly recommend the Flavia de Luce books by Alan Bradley. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is the first one. (Ds started reading these around 5th or 6th grade & absolutely adores the entire series. [i do too.] They're adult mysteries but are fine, content-wise, imo, for kids. Kids need to be decent readers re: vocabulary & probably appreciate dry British wit to fully enjoy them.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freesia Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 So, for all you Trixie fans out there...who still remembers that scene where Jim gives Trixie that charm bracelet and tells her she's his "special girl"? *swoon*. And then they...gasp...held hands for the rest of the plane ride home! My little ten year old heart was all aflutter.Absolutely! I still have vivid recall of reading it for the first time. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Trixie Belden or the Famous Five ( I think that is what the title was?). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Famous_Five_%28series%29 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Trixie Belden, yes. I remember loving Agatha Christie books at that age - I liked Hercule Poirot; obviously not a girl, though :D I also remember a series called "Doris Fein, Superspy" Doris was an heiress who solved mysteries and international intrigue. It has been 30 years since I read them, so don't really remember much more about them ... but I still remember the name of the character and that I really liked them when I read them ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 I wonder if the Mrs. Pollifax books would work though Mrs. Pollifax is sixty-ish. I remember reading them as a young teen. Here's information on the series ~ Emily Pollifax Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 She isn't exactly a "girl detective," but Vesper Holly is an awful lot of fun: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-el-dorado-adventure-lloyd-alexander/1009306938?ean=9780141304632 My daughter loved this series when she was eight or nine. I believe there are six books in the series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravinlunachick Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 She isn't exactly a "girl detective," but Vesper Holly is an awful lot of fun: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-el-dorado-adventure-lloyd-alexander/1009306938?ean=9780141304632 My daughter loved this series when she was eight or nine. I believe there are six books in the series. DD is reading Lloyd Alexander's Book of Three right now for school. She'll enjoy more of his work, I think. Thanks again for the suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsJewelsRae Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 My sister and I used to read the Mandie books around that age, my dd is 9 and enjoys them too. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Sisters Grimm books are delgihtful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Hmm, this reminds me of The Westing Game. It is like "10 Little Indians" but for the juvenile set. Pretty sure the main character is female. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 I agree with the Trixie Belden recommendations. They were my favorite books when I was younger and my mom actually bought me the first 18 books in hardcover a few years ago for Christmas! And yes, I do re-read them. :-) Donna Parker was good too. And I read a bunch of Agatha Christie at that age, the Miss Marple books might be interesting to her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murmer Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Chasing Vermeer!!!! by Blue Balliett....there are 3 books in this series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Oh, also Gail Carson Levine's Tale of Two Castles. Apparently she used Puss in Boots as inspiration - "cat goes in; cat comes out; ogre disappears; no witnesses, who knows what really happened?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 I, too, loved Trixie Belden as a kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 DD had no luck at the library today. She wants a book, preferably a series, of mystery novels featuring, in her words, "a girl detective." She has enjoyed the Boxcar Children books in the past, but rejected Nancy Drew when I suggested it today. The librarian was of no help. :glare: TIA! Trixie Belden Bobbsey Twins Happy Hollisters (These are the series I read in 6th grade) Cherry Ames if you can find it (I think this is a mystery) One-off is Harriet the Spy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Hmm, this reminds me of The Westing Game. It is like "10 Little Indians" but for the juvenile set. Pretty sure the main character is female. i LOVED the Westing game at that time but didn't recommend because I don't remember if the detective is male or female Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocelotmom Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 i LOVED the Westing game at that time but didn't recommend because I don't remember if the detective is male or female There's a bunch of "main characters", but a girl is one of the most prominent. Harriet the Spy and sequel(s)? They were honestly not my cup of tea, but I know a lot of people love them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 There's a bunch of "main characters", but a girl is one of the most prominent. It's told from her perspective and she is the only one who figures out what is going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Reading this thread makes me want to go back and read so many books.... Or just wait anxiously for my 4 year old daughter to get just a bit older. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocelotmom Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 It's told from her perspective and she is the only one who figures out what is going on. I was trying to avoid spoilers :) (And haven't read it in years, so didn't remember if it was her perspective or more of a shifting one). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree Frog Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 For about 6th grade & up, I highly recommend the Flavia de Luce books by Alan Bradley. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is the first one. (Ds started reading these around 5th or 6th grade & absolutely adores the entire series. [i do too.] They're adult mysteries but are fine, content-wise, imo, for kids. Kids need to be decent readers re: vocabulary & probably appreciate dry British wit to fully enjoy them.) This is the series my 14 yo dd loves. Flavia is an 11 yo girl (I think), so it would seem to be geared towards 11 yo girls, but one of the things my dd likes is the vocab and the way they're written Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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