The Haunted Bridge (Nancy Drew #15) by Carolyn Keene

Title: The Haunted Bridge

Series: Nancy Drew

Author: Carolyn Keene

Release Date: January 1, 1938 (revised ed.)

Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap

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★★★☆☆

Synopsis:

Mr. Drew is on the trail of an international ring of jewel thieves and asks Nancy to assist him. The trail leads to a summer resort area. Before Nancy has a chance to start work on her father’s case, a golf caddy tells her a frightening tale--in the dense woods nearby is an old wooden footbridge guarded by a ghost! Intrigued by the caddy’s story, Nancy decides to investigate. Several riddles confront the young detective as she attempts to solve the mystery of the haunted bridge and track down a woman suspected of being a key member of the gang of jewel thieves.

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My Review:

Finally picked up The Haunted Bridge.

In this installment of the Nancy Drew series, Nancy accompanies her father to Deer Mountain Lodge to assist him in a case involving jewel thieves, and at the same time, comes across another mystery related to a haunted bridge.

As someone who enjoys ghost stories and paranormal, the title and cover have intrigued me for a long time. However, it was not the best Nancy Drew I've ever read.

This Nancy Drew book was... alright, I guess. Not much happens. Most Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books end with cliffhangers in each chapter. There was not much action in this one. The beginning was slow with a guy harassing Nancy, and I agree with one reviewer mentioning that "the mystery was overshadowed by the golf tournament". Most of it was about Nancy playing golf (impressive how she was able to play golf really well despite her injured hand). Also, the mystery of the spookiness of the haunted bridge was solved early, which ruined the fun. I loved seeing Ned, Burt, and Dave, though. Also, as usual, I loved Bess and George's loyalty.

Overall, it was okay. Not bad.

Far From Home by Na'ima B. Robert

Title: Far From Home

Author: Na'ima B. Robert

Release Date: May 22, 2012

Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books

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Rating: ★★★★☆

Synopsis:

Will I ever see my home again? I do not know.

Will I ever see my father again? I do not know.

Will life ever be the same again? I do not know.

Katie and Tariro are worlds apart but their lives are linked by a terrible secret, gradually revealed in this compelling and dramatic story of two girls grappling with the complexities of adolescence, family and a painful colonial legacy.

14-year-old Tariro loves her ancestral home, the baobab tree she was born beneath, her loving family - and brave, handsome Nhamo. She couldn't be happier. But then the white settlers arrive, and everything changes - suddenly, violently, and tragically.

Twenty-five years later, 14-year-old Katie loves her doting father, her exclusive boarding school, and her farm with its baobab tree in rural Zimbabwe. Life is great. Until disaster strikes, and the family are forced to leave everything and escape to cold, rainy London.

Atmospheric, gripping and epic in scope, Far from Home brings the turbulent history of Zimbabwe to vivid, tangible life.

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My Review:

Another Na'ima B. Robert book that's been sitting unread on my shelf for years.

Actually, I was not even planning to buy it in the first place, but eleven years ago, while I was shopping for books on Amazon, it was my mom who added it to the cart. For some reason, she seemed attracted to the story and convinced me to get it. So I got it along with the other books. The year after, I started reading it, but then I put it to the side and forgot about it. I kept procrastinating on reading it for years.

I eventually picked it up again this year.

Far From Home is a historical fiction about the colonization in Zimbabwe. The story is told in the eyes of two girls, Katie and Tariro, who are worlds apart.

In Rhodesia, 1964, fourteen-year-old Tariro is happily living in her ancestral home with her loving family, and she loves the baobab tree she was born beneath. She is also in love with brave, handsome Nhamo.

But then the white settlers arrive and ruin everything - their lives change tragically.

Twenty-five years later, Zimbabwe, 2000, fourteen-year-old Katie lives with her family in a farm with its baobab tree in rural Zimbabwe. You will never guess who Katie's father is.

Life is great.

But then disaster strikes and the family is forced to leave everything behind and escape to London.

I rarely read historical fiction, but I really enjoyed this one. It was slow at times, but I think it was beautiful. I enjoyed learning about the history of Zimbabwe. I liked how Na'ima added a timeline in the end. She seems knowledgeable about this subject.

I loved the character of Tariro. She was a good kid. I think she was brave and determined, and I admired her for her willingness to be with someone during their good and bad times. The romance between her and Nhamo was sweet.

I didn't really love Katie as much as Tariro, but I felt sorry for her for being raised by such parents, and I rooted for her in the end when she finally stood up to her racist parents.

Overall, Far From Home was a beautiful book about finding freedom. It was nice and clean. Would recommend.

At All Costs (Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys: Super Mystery #33) by Carolyn Keene

Title: At All Costs

Series: Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Super Mystery

Author: Carolyn Keene

Release Date: October 1, 1997

Publisher: Archway Paperback

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★★★★☆

Synopsis:

While Nancy visits a friend at the University of Utah, Frank and Joe work undercover outside Salt Lake City at the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics, where they investigate acts of sabotage by ecoterrorists and worse.

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My Review:

At All Costs is a Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Super Mystery that has been on my TBR since forever. There was just something about the cover that drew me to it. I guess I just loved the wintery vibes.

I eventually found it on Used Amazon at a good price. I instantly bought it, and because I've been busy catching up on other books, it's been left unread on my shelf for a long time until I picked it up. I'm glad I finally did!

In At All Costs, the Hardys and Nancy solve a mystery in Utah!

While Nancy visits an old friend, Allison Fernley, at the University of Utah, the Hardys are working undercover outside Salt Lake City at the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics to investigate acts of sabotage that could be done by ecoterrorists.

At All Costs was intriguing, with intense scenes and every chapter ending on a cliffhanger!

The mystery started right away with Allison's boyfriend, Tyler Conklin, going missing.

It was fishy; was Tyler Conklin innocent or guilty? He quit the Earth At All Costs group, but he sent a letter to the American Progress office, threatening to blow up the new ski-jump tower at the Sports Park!

I loved the brotherly love when Frank got buried in the avalanche, and Joe got worried about him. I felt the need to wrap Frank in a blanket.

I may not be a Frank/Nancy shipper like most fans in the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew fandom, but I love their connection. Thankfully, there was no romance between them in this one.

Finally, At All Costs may not be a five-star read, but I loved it.

I had to knock down a star because there were times when I felt the mystery was complicated, with so many things happening and a lot of connections to the mystery that I had to flip the pages back to remember. Also, in the beginning, we don't get the chance to know the character of Tyler Conklin, since his disappearance happened right away. In order for us readers to care about the characters, we have to know them. While it was suspenseful, the story would have been more intriguing if we knew Tyler.

Overall, I loved the wintry setting.

Would read again sometime in future.

***Spoiler***Deep inside, I knew Tyler was innocent. No criminal would be stupid enough to sign their name.***Spoiler***