Party

PreS-Gr 3–Pam, Bess, and Sue are all attending a fancy celebration of Nancy Drew at the New York Public Library and, in true Nancy spirit, decide to explore their surroundings. After making their way up a grand marble staircase, Sue notices the refreshments, while Pam and Bess notice something else. As the older girls each become more frightfully amazed at what they have seen, Sue searches for what has caught their interest. Kincaid has created a mystery, not just within her plot, but for readers as well. The girls, seemingly the only children at the gala, drive the action with their delightful personalities, detailed dialogue, and reactions to the big mystery. Some readers might be a bit confused by some of the fancier vocabulary used, but they are clearly a part of Bess and Pam’s overall character. “How vile to say the least!” exclaims Bess. “How bilious!” says Pam. Each girl is so unique and amiable that readers will be drawn into the mystery before they know it, desperately searching for clues. Cortés’s expressive paintings help to show the characters’ personalities and the setting, providing some hidden hints to readers.