The Secret of the Old Clock

Written by Carolyn Keene, The Secret of the Old Clock presents a children’s, mystery work first published in 1930. Its central concerns include Drew, Nancy, Lost and found possessions, and Mystery and detective stories, approached through the possibilities of children’s, mystery. As part of a series, the book also contributes to a larger imaginative or narrative design while retaining its own identity. Themes of Drew, Nancy, Lost and found possessions, and Mystery and detective stories give the work a clear emotional and intellectual center. The book’s distinctive character comes from a clear, lively style designed to make wonder and danger immediately accessible. At roughly 41,560 words with a fairly easy reading profile, it offers a reading commitment that is easy to judge before beginning while still leaving room for close attention. Its continuing value lies in its place in the development of literature written for younger readers. Readers drawn to children’s, mystery and Drew, Nancy and Lost and found possessions will find a work that combines a distinct period voice with questions that remain recognizable today.