The Secret in the Old Attic facts for kids
Original edition cover
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| Author | Carolyn Keene |
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| Cover artist | 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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1944, 1970 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 180 |
| ISBN | 0-448-09521-1 |
| Preceded by | The Clue in the Jewel Box |
| Followed by | The Clue in the Crumbling Wall |
The Secret in the Old Attic is the twenty-first book in the exciting Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1944. The book was written under the pen name Carolyn Keene. The real author was a talented writer named Mildred Wirt Benson.
Contents
Solving the Mystery: The 1944 Story
In this mystery, Nancy Drew helps a family find some important missing music. The music was written by a soldier named Philip March. Philip's daughter and his father are living together. They are quickly running out of money. They believe some of Philip's music is being sold and played on the radio.
Nancy goes to their family estate to investigate. Her good friends, Bess and George, help her. At the same time, Nancy's father's client asks for her help. He is investigating a company that seems to be copying his special way of making silk cloth. Nancy needs to figure out what a scientist named Bushy Trott is doing at the Dight plant.
Nancy works hard to solve both mysteries. She discovers hidden songs along the way. Both cases are solved in a very exciting way at the end.
The 1970 Updated Version
The book was updated and rewritten in 1970. This newer version is still available today. It is shorter than the original story by five chapters.
In the revised story, Mr. March is looking for his son's songs. These songs were composed but never published. He wants to find them for his granddaughter, who is not wealthy. Nancy helps him find the missing music.
Another part of the story involves Nancy going to a factory. The factory is suspected of copying designs. Nancy discovers they are indeed copying the designs. At the end of the book, Nancy is almost bitten by a black widow spider. Luckily, her friend Ned Nickerson saves her just in time! This version also includes a character named Diane Dight. However, it does not have the romantic storyline that was in the first edition.
The Book's Artwork
Many collectors of the Nancy Drew series really like the original artwork. This art was created by Russell H. Tandy. It shows Nancy in an old attic with a candle. The picture has a spooky, old-fashioned feel.
In 1962, Rudy Nappi created new cover art. He gave Nancy a modern hairstyle. He also changed her hair color to red. Her dress was changed to a simple red sailor-style dress.
Then, in 1970, Nappi updated his art again. This cover used shadowy green colors. It also had spooky elements, like a skeletal hand. Nancy looks like a popular actress from that time. She is holding a candle. This cover really played on the scary themes that were popular during the "Dark Shadows" TV show era.
Nancy Drew on TV
The book is mentioned in the very first episode of the Nancy Drew television series. In the show, Nancy searches through her family’s attic. She finds a bloody dress inside a trunk. The scene where Nancy opens the trunk and finds the dress looks very similar to the book's cover art.
