The Secret at Shadow Ranch facts for kids
Original edition
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| Author | Carolyn Keene |
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| Illustrator | Russell H. Tandy |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Nancy Drew Mystery Stories |
| Genre | Juvenile literature |
| Publisher | Grosset & Dunlap |
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Publication date
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1931, 1965 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 175 |
| Preceded by | The Mystery at Lilac Inn |
| Followed by | The Secret of Red Gate Farm |
The Secret at Shadow Ranch is the fifth book in the exciting Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first released in 1931. The book was written by Mildred Wirt Benson using the pen name Carolyn Keene. This story has been very popular, selling over 2.3 million copies since 1931!
The Original Story (1931)
In this adventure, you meet Nancy's best friends, Bess Marvin and George Fayne. Bess and George are very different. George is brave and loves sports, like a tomboy. Bess is more into shopping and can be a bit scared sometimes.
Nancy, Bess, and George's cousin, Alice Regor, travel to Arizona. They visit Alice's aunt and uncle at their ranch. The ranch is in trouble, and Alice's aunt is trying to save it. Nancy helps Alice find her father, who is an artist and has lost his memory. Nancy also solves a mystery about an old mountain woman and a young girl she is protecting. Along the way, Nancy enjoys ranch life, including horseback riding. She also faces dangers like a sudden flood, getting lost in the mountains, and even a mountain lion!
The Updated Story (1965)
The book was updated in 1965 with a new story. In this version, Nancy travels with Bess and George to Shadow Ranch, which is near Phoenix, Arizona. The ranch is in danger of closing down. A mysterious phantom horse seems to appear and cause problems every time it shows up.
The girls quickly become friends with the young people who work at the ranch. They find a pocket watch with a secret message about a green bottle and a painting. These clues help Nancy search for the lost treasure of a person named Dirk Valentine. Her search leads her to an old Native American home, a hidden person, a chest full of gold, and a group of bad guys. This updated story has lots of danger and excitement! The title of the book was also changed slightly, from "at" to "of" Shadow Ranch.
About the Artwork
The pictures in the book have changed over the years. Russell H. Tandy drew the first cover and the pictures inside the book in 1931. In 1950, Bill Gillies created a new cover that showed Nancy on a horse. When the story was updated in 1965, Rudy Nappi drew the new cover, which featured the mysterious phantom horse.
Video Game Adaptation
This popular book was also made into a video game! It's called Nancy Drew: The Secret of Shadow Ranch. It's a point-and-click adventure game created by Her Interactive. A version for mobile devices like iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch was also released.
