It's strange how the girls suddenly have this other uncle who has never been mentioned before.
On page 1, Ken Scott tells the girls that they "are always gadding off" to solve a mystery. Use of "gadding off" or "gadding about" was quite uncommon in the late 20th century and continues to be uncommon. "Gadding" shows up frequently in old literature, not in books of the late 20th century. This is a case of Harriet Adams showing her age.
On page 12, the Danas are in a helicopter that appears to be about to crash. "They hoped the terrific jolt would not knock them unconscious, so they could not swim. But if they did manage to swim to shore, what about their baggage? Would all their clothes and jewelry sink to the bottom of the harbor?"
The girls are worried about their clothes and jewelry? If I were in a helicopter that was about to crash, I would be more concerned about being killed than about my clothing.
On page 19, the girls don't know what a gazebo is. "Louise and Jean puckered their brows, trying to remember what a gazebo was." After Deb explains, Jean replies, "I'm glad you explained." This is awkward and makes the girls look dumb.
Actually, the girls probably are dumb. After all, in the previous book, they did take a nap face down in a shallow pit on a beach.
That aside, this is another example of Harriet Adams explaining something that probably didn't need to be explained. Or just in case, the gazebo could have been described quite naturally as part of the text as the girls walk up to it without them asking what it is. That way, any readers who don't recognize the word would learn what it is.
I found a mistake in the book. On page 63, Hoppy Canfield is in the hospital. On page 73, a rock is thrown on the roof of the house in which the girls are staying. On page 99, Hoppy Canfield is still in the hospital and has not left the hospital at any point. He admits to the girls that he threw the rock on the roof. Hmm.
The girls actually climb a rocky cliff while barefoot after they lose their shoes in the water.
This is a very good book.
2 comments:
Thank you for these reviews, I'm really enjoying them. What I always found amusing about this one was that this "new" uncle--married, college president--was not chosen as guardian for the girls who were instead placed with their bachelor sailor uncle who was always gone. I think Harriet Adams neglected to think that one through.
This is the first time of hearing about this series I was familiar with the Nancy Drew series I mean who isn’t it has been remade countless times. Luckily I found some books on Etsy so definitely ordering some in a few days .
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