Keene, Carolyn. The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1940.Keene, Carolyn. The Scarlet Slipper Mystery. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1954.
And I would’ve gotten away with it too! If it wasn’t for…. a smart, cunning teenage girl who employs her expert critical thinking skills, social underdog position, and emotional empathy to solve the case.
I fell in love with mysteries through the Nancy Drew books. The bold, intelligent main character of the original 1930s series has become a cultural icon, and still today she maintains her status as an archetype for the “girl detective” trope that is beloved by many.
My own memories of Nancy Drew bring to mind a large stack of hardback yellow books stacked high on my bookshelf that were passed on by a family member who knew I loved to read. I can still remember a sense of vivid anticipation when tearing through the pages of The Secret of the Old Clock. In some ways progressive, as it showcased a strong-willed woman with impeccable assessment and problem solving skills, the original 1930s version also contained incredibly racist stereotypes and has been rewritten in updated editions.
The presence of female detectives have remained prevalent in American culture until now, especially in film and television, with some of my favorites being the everyday Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote and Marvel’s sleuth reporter Jessica Jones.
These women are not always likable to the other characters in their stories. They’re persistent, often questioning of authority, and interrogative of the social norms that the patriarchy presents to try and keep them away from key conversations and details. Sometimes, they are categorized as social outsiders, which, especially in the gender-coded context of female adolescence where fitting in and being perceived as “good” are given high value, can present a lot of personal challenges in their stories.
I think, when I reflect, that what I love most about YA mystery with female protagonists is seeing our “flaws” become assets. There is a way for women to be more palatable to the patriarchy, and that includes a friendly, accepting disposition, unquestioning attitude, and this overall appearance of being a “good woman.” But it is the straightforward and persistent nature, inquisitiveness, flexibility and adaptability to complex social situations, and emotional intelligence, that makes these female protagonists able to crack case after case.
Check out my reviewed books in this genre:
- The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
- Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
- A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
- All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue
And some titles on my TBR:
Julia's Bookshelves 
Hi Julia. Curious, did you watch the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series? Would love to hear your thoughts.
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Not yet! I had quite the strange experience of reading the first two books in the UK and then buying the third book back in the US… only to find that the setting was rewritten for a US audience to have the characters in an American town. Which, to me, completely changes the story as public relationships to the school system, policing, and violence among other themes are definitely different in each country. I do have the show on my list though, I’m interested to see what changes they made!
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Love this list! YA mysteries led by strong girls are such a fun and empowering read. Your picks are so on-point, I’m excited to add a few to my reading list. Thanks for sharing!
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