For Other Professionals
Blogs About Reading
Page by Page
Reading Rockets' children's literature expert, Maria Salvadore, brings you into her world as she explores the best ways to use kids' books both inside — and outside — of the classroom.
The times they are a changin'
A recent commentary by Ruth Marcus in the Washington Post about the influence of reading Nancy Drew mysteries had on a generation, well, it got me thinking...
Marcus laments that her daughter didn't read Nancy Drew mysteries suggesting that it was because "Girls now don't need Nancy Drew. They know what we had to learn — that self-confidence is something to celebrate, not suppress..." and that Nancy Drew's behavior is the "new normal."
Certainly language has changed. My son doesn't see the mailman, the policeman or the fireman; instead he was raised with mail carrier, police officer and fire fighter.
But I'm not as convinced that self-confidence is universally celebrated, especially in girls. I think Nancy and other self-assured, smart young women still have an important place in the canon of young people's literature — these books represent an approach to life that is not nearly as cynical as many of the more contemporary pop series.
I read Nancy Drew, too, but I actually preferred Trixie Belden — another girl detective.
Trixie had it all over Nancy, I thought. She wore dungarees (when was the last time you heard jeans called that?!) because she was a real 'tomboy' (another antiquated term!). I saw more of me in Trixie Belden, I suppose.
It's all about choices — and helping readers make good ones.
I loved Trixie Belden, too! I vividly remember her knowing how to suck venem from a copperhead bite in the woods. I was entranced by her self-suffiency!
Posted by: Gail | July 18, 2007 12:43 PM
Comments
I read both Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden in my youth and was inspired by all the recent talk of Nancy to go back for another read of titles from the original series. I was very pleasantly surprised to find a great deal of competition for copies from the local library from young readers. When asked which they preferred, most liked the old Nancy over the more modern version. Why? Because those were the ones their moms had read and they were enjoying them together.
Posted by: Rachael | July 02, 2007 09:44 PM