Message in the Hollow Oak Review
This Nancy Drew mystery book is twelth in its series. It is a fictional mystery, and is filled with suprise and supense. I loved the book. It was a page-turner and was full of supense. I thought that it was because of all the suprises and the determination of Nanc to continue to solve the mystery. Without Nancy Drew's determination and keen thinking, the book would have been dull and boring. I definetly recomend this book. I believe the book is well suited for anyone from grades five through eight. Since you do not have encough clues until the end of the story, you cannot find out where the treasure is hidden until Nancy finds it.
Available at Amazon Check Price Now!
Related Products
- The Clue of the Broken Locket (Nancy Drew, Book 11)
- The Password to Larkspur Lane (Nancy Drew, Book 10)
- The Mystery of the Ivory Charm (Nancy Drew, Book 13)
- The Whispering Statue (Nancy Drew #14)
- The Sign of the Twisted Candles (Nancy Drew, Book 9)
Customer Reviews
"It Must Have All Been a Hoax!" - R. M. Fisher - New Zealand = Middle Earth!
Well, I hate to be the single nay-sayer here, but "The Message in the Hollow Oak" is definitely not one of Nancy's finer mysteries - in fact, it's not really even a mystery at all. Filled with coincidences, contrivances and other leaps of logic, this particular installment doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense.
It begins with one of the more contrived set-ups in this series, in which Nancy wins a competition when the title she submits for a novelist's story is selected. The first prize is - of all things - a tract of land in Canada. Eager to go and see it for herself, Nancy organizes herself, Bess and George for travel.
Her father's latest client just happens to be familiar with the territory and suggests a friend that can provide lodgings for Nancy in Lake Wellington. Outside, Nancy just happens to run into this very woman and prevents a robbery by the man who just happens to be working with a suspicious fellow who has an interest in Nancy's newfound property. On the journey to Lake Wellington, Nancy just happens to be on the same train as the writer of the story she won the competition for, who just happens to be connected with various people involved in the case.
Although when I say "case", there isn't really much of one. Instead it's more like Nancy versus the corrupt gold-miners. Various people seem to be interested in Nancy's land, but only because they suspect there is gold to be found on it. A man has gone missing, but it's reasonably easy to ascertain what's happened to him. There is a bit of a star-crossed lovers plot involved, but this is resolved quickly. Most of the plot is just manufactured situations and coincidences piling up upon more coincidences.
Bess sleepwalks for no reason. A train derails just *because*. A man willingly gives up a hostage even though he already had want he wanted from Nancy, and even though the hostage's testimony gets him sent to prison. Even the titular hollow oak isn't of any particular importance to the story, save that it holds a note that Nancy couldn't possibly have deduced was there. And some plot points go completely unexplained. The tree itself is a secret letter box between two lovers who are parted because someone put a fake note in the tree - but who this person was and why they did it is never explained.
Other bizarre occurrences include Nancy successfully lassoing Bess as she's falling to her death, and Nancy palming a key out of a man's hand without him noticing. How are either of these things even possible?
Oh, and see how there's a skull in the tree in the cover art? There's no such thing in the book.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Nancy Drew books. But there's always one bad apple, and "The Message in the Hollow Oak" falls far from the usual quality of these mysteries. Unless you're a completist, you can give this one a miss.
Message in the Hollow Oak - George R. Gallegos -
The book was in excellent condition and arrived promptly. It will make a wonderful gift for my niece!
nancy drew - lauren - los angeles
I ordered it with the intention of walking down the path of childhood long since forgotten. I am as enthralled with the book now as I was thirty years ago. It is inspiring and just deliteful. Nancy Drew has endured the test of time and come out still the best at what she does.
Excellent - P. Work -
All the Nancy Drew books are excellent - perfect to develop a 8 or 9 year olds love for reading. The stories are all so interesting. We cherish our mother daughter routine of reading these books together every night. Also the characters are wholesome. There is a line drawn between good and evil. Some of the more contemporary books like Junie B. Jones have main characters that I would never want my daughter to emulate with bad attitudes, etc. Nancy Drew is not afraid of ANYTHING or ANYONE and is always finding adventure while solving mysteries.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 28, 2010 03:45:05
No comments:
Post a Comment