The Sign of the Twisted Candles facts for kids
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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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1933, revised 1968 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Preceded by | Nancy's Mysterious Letter |
| Followed by | The Password to Larkspur Lane |
The Sign of the Twisted Candles is the ninth book in the exciting Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1933. The book was written by Walter Karig under the famous pen name Carolyn Keene.
Contents
What is the Story About?
This mystery story follows Nancy Drew as she helps solve a puzzle about an old man's missing money. Along the way, she helps end a family disagreement. She also finds out who a young orphan girl's real family is.
Nancy Meets a 100-Year-Old Man
The story begins when Nancy and her friends, Bess and George, stop at a place called The Sign of the Twisted Candles. This is a roadside inn and restaurant. They are waiting for a storm to pass. While there, they meet Asa Sidney, a man celebrating his 100th birthday. They also meet Carol Wipple, a kind maid and waitress. Carol is not treated well by her adoptive parents, Frank and Emma Jemmit.
A Family Secret and a New Mystery
Nancy soon learns that Mr. Sidney is an old relative of Bess and George. When Mr. Sidney passes away a few days later, a big family argument starts. This leaves Nancy feeling alone, as some family members are upset with her.
Mr. Sidney's will says that Carol is the main person to receive his money. Nancy believes that Frank and Emma Jemmit have taken some of Mr. Sidney's property unfairly. Nancy also wants to find out why Mr. Sidney was so interested in young Carol. Meanwhile, other relatives from the Sidney and Boonton families start fighting over the money.
Solving the Puzzle and Finding the Truth
As Nancy investigates, she gets back together with her friends. Later, Nancy is almost hurt when someone pushes her from a ladder. This ladder was leaning against a tower window.
Nancy discovers a big secret: Carol is actually Asa Sidney's great-niece! This means Carol has rights to many inventions that Mr. Sidney had been working on. Because of Nancy's discoveries, the family disagreement finally comes to an end.
Artwork in the Books
The pictures in the original 1933 book were drawn by Russell H. Tandy. He was the artist for the Nancy Drew series from 1930 to 1949.
Original 1933 Artwork
In the first edition, Nancy is shown meeting Mr. Sidney. She is wearing a simple summer dress and a hat. This book is also known for a picture inside that shows Nancy being pushed from a ladder. This specific picture and two others were removed from later editions starting in 1936.
Later Cover Art
The 1950 cover art by Bill Gillies shows Nancy looking out a window. She is watching Frank Jemmit digging a hole outside. A simpler version of this picture was used on the inside covers of books from 1953 to 1959. These inside covers are known as the 'Digger' end papers. They show the digging man, while Nancy hides behind a tree and watches.
The 1968 cover art shows Nancy near a candle. Asa Sidney is in the background. This picture was also used for general covers in different colors like red, blue, and pink. These were often used for books that were rebound for libraries.
