The Scarytales Sleepover is the 50th book in the Nancy Drew Notebooks series. It was published in October, 2002 for Aladdin Paperbacks. The cover tagline says “Try to sleep a wink in this haunted house!”
Back of the Book Summary:
Thrills and chills — this is going to be the coolest birthday ever!
Adventure is brewing at Scarytales, a creepy old house where storybook villains like the Big Bad Wolf, Captain Hook, and the mean stepsisters from “Cinderella” come to life. So when Nancy, Bess, George, Katie Zeleski, and her parrot, Lester, go to their friend Amara’s Scarytales sleepover party, they’re sure to have a great time.
But the fun really turns scary when strange things start to happen and Lester disappears from his cage. Even the villains of Scarytales are spooked! Could the troublemaker be Amara’s pesky little cousin, Ernest, the grouchy troll with a plan up his sleeve, or the wicked witch who threatens to pop Lester into her bubbling brew? Can Nancy solve this case before Amara’s birthday is ruined?
Inside Teaser:
Haunted house horror!
Katie slumped back on a stair. “I can’t believe this is happening!” she said. “I can’t believe Lester is missing!”
“Don’t look now,” George said. “But someone else is missing.”
“Who?” Mari asked.
“Bess!” George replied.
“Bess?” Nancy gasped.
Her eyes darted around for her best friend. But George was right. Bess was gone!
Review:
Nancy, Bess, George join their friends Mari and Katie with her pet parrot Lester to attend a sleepover with friend Amara at her Aunt’s haunted house called Scarytales. The girls encounter themed storybook character villains, themed rooms and enjoy finding treats throughout the house. When Lester goes missing, the girls are worried. As they start investigating where he might be, they are alarmed when special effects take place in front of them, which also surprises the villains. Who is causing all these odd things to happen? And where is Lester?
The girls team together to track down the clues, cheer each other up, and still have fun.
This is a very fun book, and the house sounds like a great place to explore and experience creative scenarios. The clue hunting in minor, but interrogating suspects and retracing steps is the key. At one point Nancy finds a great secret door, and also sketches out her main clue. At one point, George teases Bess by calling her clothes “prissy.”
Katie mentions her parrot likes salami, which is unfortunate because parrots in real life would get sick from eating deli meats.
Nancy Drew Canon Observations:
Nancy’s dad, Carson Drew, a lawyer, is briefly mentioned.
The story mentions Hannah Gruen, the Drew housekeeper who has been the Drew’s housekeeper since Nancy was three years old.
Bess and George are cousins, and it mentions that George’s real name is Georgia.
Nancy mentions that her favorite colors are purple and pink.
Extra Notes:
Illustrated by Jan Naimo Jones. Cover photography by Michael Frost. Cover photo-illustration by Joanie Schwarz.
Length: 69 pages in the main story (more with the title page, series lists, and ads).
