The Clue of the Broken Locket facts for kids
Original edition cover
|
|
| Author | Carolyn Keene |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Russell H. Tandy |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Nancy Drew Mystery Stories |
| Genre | Juvenile literature |
| Publisher | Grosset & Dunlap |
|
Publication date
|
1934, 1965 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-448-09511-4 |
| OCLC | 30575608 |
| Preceded by | The Password to Larkspur Lane |
| Followed by | The Message in the Hollow Oak |
The Clue of the Broken Locket is the eleventh book in the exciting Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It first came out in 1934. Mildred Benson wrote it using the pen name Carolyn Keene. Later, in 1965, Harriet Stratemeyer updated the story. The new version changed most of the original plot.
Contents
The Original Mystery (1934)
The story begins with Nancy Drew seeing a couple, Kitty and Johnny Blair, adopt two baby twins. Their names are Jay and Janet. The babies were found mysteriously in a boat near the river. A nurse from the Selkirk Foundling’s Home found them.
The Blairs and the Twins
The Blairs are famous actors. They adopt the babies to get more attention. They hope to raise the children to be actors too. This would help their own careers. Nancy sees that the Blairs are not very good at caring for the children. She decides to find the twins' real mother. She wants to take the children away from the Blairs. This is a challenge because the adoption papers are already signed.
A Party and a Secret Locket
Nancy and her friend Bess are invited to a party. It is at the Blair’s big house, called Jolly Folly. Mrs. Blair plans to burn a package of clothes. She also wants to burn an old, broken locket. These items came with the twins. Nancy, with help from Hannah Gruen, secretly swaps the original items. She puts in some of her old doll clothes and an old locket. Nancy takes the twins' original clothes and locket to investigate.
Suspicious Staff and a Producer
Nancy becomes suspicious of the Blair’s maid, Colleen. She also watches their chauffeur, Rodney. Colleen is supposed to care for the twins. But she spends most of her time with her boyfriend, Francis Clancy. She also tries on Mrs. Blair’s fancy dresses. Nancy, Bess, and George are upset by Colleen’s actions. Still, they help her out of trouble sometimes. Meanwhile, Edwin McNeery, a theater producer, tries to get the Blairs to sign a contract. He wants them to give up the babies. He also wants them to attend more rehearsals. In return, they would get parts in his new play. He tells Nancy about his wife. She left him because he wanted her to keep acting. She wanted to start a family instead.
A Mysterious Woman and a Reunion
Nancy and Bess take the twins for a walk on the Blair estate. They see a mysterious woman approach the twins' carriage. She kisses them. Nancy and Bess try to catch her, but she gets away. Nancy later finds the woman. Her name is Ruth Brown. Nancy learns that Ruth is Rodney’s sister. Ruth was also the nurse who found the twins by the river. She cared for them at the Selkirk Home. Nancy happily reunites Ruth and Rodney Brown. Ruth then moves in with the Blairs. She takes care of Janet and Jay after Colleen is fired.
The Broken Locket Clue
Nancy tracks down a man named Enos Crinkle. He shows her the boat where the twins were found. Nancy, Bess, and George search the boat. They find the other half of the broken locket. It has the initials S. M. N. This is the scene shown on the book's cover.
The Maid's Trick and the Truth
Colleen gets angry. The maid plants Mrs. Blair’s valuable locket in Nancy’s car. She tries to get Nancy arrested. But Nancy is too smart for her. Nancy goes with Bess and George to a cabin by the river. There, Nancy finds the twins’ real mother. She is Sylvia McNeery, Edwin McNeery’s wife. She is Jay and Janet’s mother. The twins are reunited with the McNeerys. They choose to hire Ruth and Rodney Brown. Ruth becomes their nurse, and Rodney their chauffeur.
The Revised Story (1965)
The updated 1965 version of the book is different. It features two cousins who have been separated. The story takes place in Maryland. A spooky boat appears on a nearby lake. Two twin children are missing! A mysterious place called Pudding Stone Lodge seems to hold many secrets. These secrets are very important to the cousins and to Nancy. Nancy asks Ned and his friends to come to the lake to help her.
Artwork and Covers
The first cover art for the book is not credited to anyone. Russell H. Tandy drew the first picture inside the book. He also drew three other pictures for the 1934 edition. You can find a copy of this original book. It was published in 1998 by Applewood Books.
In 1950, Bill Gillies updated the cover art. Then, in 1962, Rudy Nappi made another new cover. He put Enos Crinkle on that cover. When the story was changed in 1965, Nappi created yet another cover. This cover is still in print today. It shows a dark lake. Nancy, Bess, and George are discovering the broken locket. They are wading to a ruined boat. Even though the story changed, this newest cover shows the same scene as the earlier ones. The revised book also has new drawings inside.
