Nancy Who?

I have been doing a lot of substitute teaching, and my most cush days so far have been spent in the school Media Center.  This is what we used to call "The Library", as it now includes computer time for the lil' dickenses.  

It's been kind of fun rediscovering some of my own favorite books as I've made the reshelving rounds, however I've also noticed some new versions of my old standbys that don't quite cut it.  Most notably, the Nancy Drew series, still presumably authored by "Carolyn Keene" (which always included a number of ghost writers), has gone way downhill.  

A beloved relative gave me my first Nancy Drew book, The Crooked Banister.  After this, I remember trips to the bookstore carefully selecting what looked like the spookiest, most ghostly adventures, solved by the brainy Nancy along with her trusty Scooby Gang.  Remember, this was before Scooby Gangs even existed, so this was some forward-looking literature.  These books had it all:  a strong female lead, slightly unusual female supporting characters, and wonderfully scary scenarios.

You can still find the classic volumes in today's school Media Centers, however they are surrounded by newer works such as The Fashion Disaster (featuring a fashion show for dogs) and Sleepover Sleuths (including, of course, a pajama fashion show).

Need I say more?