burstnwithbooks's review
4.0
This was super fun! I adore the art style and I really loved the way the story was reimagined. I’m slightly confused as to the ages but other than that everything was pretty much perfect. Can’t wait to see more!
gremlintool's review
4.0
I am a huge fan of all things Nancy Drew! I really enjoyed this. The story was interesting and the artwork is lovely. I loved the representation and diversity of the characters. 3.5/5
starryorbit12's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
My big issue is the how large the cast of characters is for how short the book is. No one gets any depth to them.
Nancy's Riverheight friends? Literally are introduced to never be scene on page again. One hacks some file for Nancy and the other texts her at the end. Neither really do anything for the story. If you cut them entirely, nothing fundamental changes or is broken in the story. And, it's simple enough to have another character hack the files or have Nancy's dad be the one to text at the end.
George's girlfriend is literally just there. Like, she is on page a lot but barely says or does anything. She pretty much exists for the paltry represention.
Considering how much the narrative invests in Joe/Bess and Nancy/Pete, I think the author just wants to be able to say that they have queer representation without actually caring about that representation at all.
Danica is a cardboard cut that just exists in the background of this story is has no real personality outside being George's girlfriend. Even the story seems confused at why she is there, all she gets is a question mark in her introduction.
The Hardy Boys feel there to prop up Nancy most of the time instead of their own distinctive characters that have the own separate, distinctive series where they are capable detectives in their own right.
Honestly, Bess and Pete are the only ones that do something for the story. Bess knows the drug. Their homebase is her house. She gets them into the party and gives them cover to investigate the back with worker positions. Bess Pete gets Nancy back to town, and his mother is the victim. He is the one to get Nancg out the whole and help her find the body.
Everyone else is kind of their and doesn't do much to progress the plot while also not getting much time to be fleshed out. Frankly, this story needs about another 50 pages to pace the mystery better and flesh the cast out. Like,
So much was missed in terms of world building. Like, Nancy's mom death is big thing for he and yet we don't even know what kind of accident is was, and it's just glossed over why of the fact that Nancy and her Bayport friends haven't spoken in 7 years or the fact that Hardy Boys just got back into town too.
It just feels like a good start but too superficial for me to get truly invested because their is no time be invested because the narrative is stretched too thin by all characters.
Nancy's Riverheight friends? Literally are introduced to never be scene on page again. One hacks some file for Nancy and the other texts her at the end. Neither really do anything for the story. If you cut them entirely, nothing fundamental changes or is broken in the story. And, it's simple enough to have another character hack the files or have Nancy's dad be the one to text at the end.
George's girlfriend is literally just there. Like, she is on page a lot but barely says or does anything. She pretty much exists for the paltry represention.
Considering how much the narrative invests in Joe/Bess and Nancy/Pete, I think the author just wants to be able to say that they have queer representation without actually caring about that representation at all.
Danica is a cardboard cut that just exists in the background of this story is has no real personality outside being George's girlfriend. Even the story seems confused at why she is there, all she gets is a question mark in her introduction.
The Hardy Boys feel there to prop up Nancy most of the time instead of their own distinctive characters that have the own separate, distinctive series where they are capable detectives in their own right.
Honestly, Bess and Pete are the only ones that do something for the story. Bess knows the drug. Their homebase is her house. She gets them into the party and gives them cover to investigate the back with worker positions. Bess
Spoiler
knows about the drug, the party, and spots the missing girl being taken. She also is able to record her own kidnapping.Everyone else is kind of their and doesn't do much to progress the plot while also not getting much time to be fleshed out. Frankly, this story needs about another 50 pages to pace the mystery better and flesh the cast out. Like,
Spoiler
the bad guy is literally just the one guy we meet during the investigation. It has to be him becausetheir are no other suspects. Outside of Nancy and her crew, the only named chracters we meet are mascot theft, a librarian, the guy who employeed the two of the victims, and patronizing cop. Can you guess who did it? Their isn't much mystery and the motive is just as boring as they knew to much.So much was missed in terms of world building. Like, Nancy's mom death is big thing for he and yet we don't even know what kind of accident is was, and it's just glossed over why of the fact that Nancy and her Bayport friends haven't spoken in 7 years or the fact that Hardy Boys just got back into town too.
It just feels like a good start but too superficial for me to get truly invested because their is no time be invested because the narrative is stretched too thin by all characters.
criticalreader's review
3.0
Art style is great and all the characters bar Nancy are fun. Whilst Nancy Drew is smart and snarky, she is a shit friend and repeats the same mistakes. I did not grow up with the series but I enjoyed the diverse cast and how natural it felt. From different body types, sexualities and ethnicities. It didn't blow me away but it was solid and I would continue. My favourite character is likely Bess.
jkdehaven's review against another edition
4.0
This graphic novel is a modernization of the classic Nancy Drew books. Many of the original characters make an appearance and have been updated for modern times. I found it to be an entertaining detective story told in comic book form. For me personally, it was a bit disconcerting to see the classic characters that I grew up reading being modernized, but I still enjoyed the story itself once I worked to get past that. The art style is also accessible and clear. I would recommend this to students who enjoy both well-written mysteries and graphic novels.
ickijones's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
madelinefmcguire's review
5.0
A graphic novel version of Nancy Drew this time Nancy returns to her home town after receiving a mysterious letter about her mother's death. She apprehensive about working with her friends again, after being a loner but with a little pushing they're all on the case with Nancy.
I adored this graphic novel. The yellow Nancy drew books were the first books I ever really loved, and this series gives Nancy a 2019 update with diversity and a new look for Nancy. 10/10 would recommend for anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
I adored this graphic novel. The yellow Nancy drew books were the first books I ever really loved, and this series gives Nancy a 2019 update with diversity and a new look for Nancy. 10/10 would recommend for anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
kdehaven's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book. I'd been looking forward to reading Kelly Thompson's take on Nancy Drew since she's one of my favorite authors and I devoured the Nancy Drew novels as a child, and this did not disappoint. Thompson imagines the classic Nancy Drew friend group in a modern context and engages themes of loss, long-distance friendship, and systemic injustice. Instead of just having the issue of police not believing Nancy and her friends because they're high school kids, Thompson also looks at what it means for victims to be women in vulnerable socio-economic situations and how those cases are investigated. Even while Thompson deals with serious themes, it's still a really fun book. The individual issues in this collection go together well, and the artwork is really well-done. I'd highly recommend this to fans of comics/graphic novels and the classic Nancy Drew books and computer games.
ida_ixkes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0