Protecting My Nancy Drew Action Figures

Last year, Wandering Planet Toys had a Kickstarter.  I was one of the backers, and my action figures arrived on June 1.  If you missed out on the Kickstarter, some action figures should show up eventually on the secondhand market.

I had left the action figures in the shipping box until tonight.  I didn't want them to collect dust, and I hadn't felt like getting them protected.  

Here are some pictures.

Click on images to see them at a higher resolution.

I also received the Nancy Drew novela, Case of the Curious Collection.  The novela was only available through the Kickstarter.  I do have some extras, and eventually I will sell them.

Last year, I purchased a roll of cellophane on Amazon.  

100 ft Clear Cellophane Wrap Roll

The cellophane is fabulous.  It was exactly what I needed.  I had some larger collectible items that I needed to get protected, and the cellophane was perfect for my application.  The cellophane is crystal clear and very thin.  It is exactly like the cellophane that is wrapped around gift baskets and similar items.

I did not want my Nancy Drew action figures to be collecting dust, so I finally wrapped them in the cellophane tonight.  This way when dust collects, it will instead be on the cellophane.  I can gently wipe the cellophane to remove the dust.

In the next photo, all of the action figures are wrapped in cellophane.

While visible, the cellophane is not obtrusive.  I like knowing that dust will not collect on the action figures.

I highly recommend this cellophane wrap if you have any larger or irregularly shaped items that need protection.

eBay and Etsy Books are 15% Off

All of my books on Etsy are now 15% off.  Most of my books on eBay are 15% off.  I have withheld some eBay store categories from the sale.

Jennifer's Series Books on eBay

Jennifer's Series Books on Etsy

My problem is that I need to straighten my eBay and Etsy shelves.  Each time I try, I quit.  I have too many books for sale, and they are in a bit of a mess.  I'd like to get some more sold before I close my stores for the start of school.  If I can get the number of books down some, then I can better straighten the shelves and get the books all nice and compact for however long I'm closed.

These photos show some of my listed books.  The first two photos are of books on eBay, and the last two are of books on Etsy.  I also have books on some other shelves as well.  Click in images in order to see them clearly.

I didn't photograph what really bothers me.  I have quite a few bulk lots, and those lots are stacked in various locations.  Bulk lots just aren't selling like they did in the past.  My bulk lots have tended to go to people buying to resell, and those people are having trouble selling books, so they aren't buying books.  I'm stuck with the bulk lots until the right person finally comes along.

I will close both stores no later than Wednesday, August 7.  I might shut down slightly before then, depending upon what's going on and how I feel.  Since we have new textbooks this year, I expect to be working on some stuff in the week before I go back to work.  I could decide to shut down sooner than August 7.  I go back to work on August 9.

The current sale ends on Sunday, July 28.

Campus Murder Club by Kristi Rose

Campus Murder Club was written by independent author Kristi Rose and was published on October 6, 2023.

Publisher's summary:

Step into a world of intrigue, suspense, and secrets as the Campus Murder Club takes you on a heart-pounding journey through a chilling cold case in Kristi Rose's thrilling young adult mystery novel.

College can be murder.

Nestled in the woods of a Pacific Northwest town, a prestigious college becomes the setting for a chilling murder.  When nursing student Jaime is brutally killed in her exclusive private all-girls room, the authorities quickly abandon her case, dooming it to the cold case files.  But fate has other plans.

Catching a killer can be deadly.

Five unsuspecting students receive cryptic invitations that thrust them into a dangerous game of cat and mouse.  Drawn together by an unknown hand, these citizen sleuths are about to embark on a perilous quest to unearth the truth behind Jaime's murder.

As they delve into Jaime's past, her journal emerges as the key to unraveling the truth, but it also puts their lives in danger.  With every corner filled with lurking peril, the stakes rise, forcing them to confront the deadly consequences of their pursuit.

Will they unmask the killer hiding in plain sight, or will they become the next victims in this deadly game of deception?

The book opens as follows:

The challenge came as a letter, stuffed among the magazines and flyers in their mailboxes.  There was no postage.  No address for the sender or recipient.  Just their names scrawled across the front in a thin, jagged cursive.  Inside was a single sheet of paper.  At the top was an image of a red splatter, the word murder, and a magnifying glass.  The paper could easily have been mistaken for a cheap advertising flyer, an old-school practice gone the way of the dinosaur as smartphones and tablets became the primary source for information and advertising. 

Is There a Killer Among Us?

Do you feel safe on campus?  In your dorm?  Nursing student Jaime Sullivan was raped then strangled in her dorm.  The campus police responded by adding a few extra patrols at night.  The Sheriff's Department has moved on.  Jaime Sullivan is an unsolved case.  Soon to be cold and forgotten.  How does that make you feel?

Who out there cares enough about those who no longer have a voice?  You?

But do you care enough to make a difference?

Come Thursday the 13th Journalism Building 9 p.m.

Five students respond to the letter.  These students were each chosen for a reason, and the author gradually reveals information about each student as the story progresses.  Clues about Jaime's final day and her death are gradually doled out as the students investigate.  The clues are steadily revealed, and the book never has any slow or uninteresting parts.  The book also contains multiple mysteries, which the reader won't see coming.  

The book is written in a mixture of third-person limited and third-person omniscient.  Sometimes the reader only knows one character's thoughts during a scene, and at other times, the reader knows the thoughts of more than one character at the same time.

The mysteries were fully solved at the end of the book, but the Campus Murder Club's future is left slightly open-ended so that a sequel is possible.

If you enjoyed One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, then you should enjoy reading this book.

This is an excellent book.  I was sorry to reach the end, but I felt quite happy about my reading experience.

Only She Came Back by Margot Harrison

Only She Came Back was written by Margot Harrison and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on November 14, 2023.

Publisher's summary:

A chilling thriller about an unlikely friendship between a true-crime fan and a former high school classmate suspected of murdering her influencer boyfriend, perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Courtney Summers.

On July 28 at 6:30 p.m., Kiri Dunsmore walks out of the desert wearing her boyfriend's sweatshirt, covered in his blood.  Dazed and on the verge of unconsciousness, she tells a cashier that he's still out there and most likely dead.  The disappearance of Callum Massey, a "survival guru" with hundreds of thousands of YouTube followers, rocks the nation.  And Kiri is a prime suspect.

Back in Kiri's hometown, true-crime fanatic Sam is completely hooked on the case—especially now that she recognizes the suspect as shy Katie from high school.  Although they didn't know each other well, that doesn't stop Sam from reaching out to befriend her old classmate.

But when Kiri starts to confide in her, Sam realizes there's more to the story than she had imagined.  Can she keep Kiri's secrets even though revealing them could put her where she's always longed to be—at the center of the story? 

The premise intrigued me.  The public is fascinated with true-crime stories, particularly when the case is unsolved.  This book offers up an unsolved case.  Callum Massey is missing.  He might or might not be dead.  His girlfriend Kiri might have done something to him, but perhaps she's innocent.  What's certain is that the reader doesn't know the whole story and that the mystery will gradually unfold as the book is read. 

The protagonist, Sam, is obsessed with true-crime stories.  When she befriends Kiri, she finds herself in a questionable role.  Should she be a real friend to Kiri, or should she post what she knows online?  In the end, Sam finds herself enmeshed in the case, resulting in dangerous consequences.

After the end of the story, the author, Margot Harrison, opens her acknowledgments with the following passage:

True crime is a fraught subject, for good reason—one that has always made me feel fascinated and queasy in equal measures.  I want to thank everyone who helped me navigate the quandaries of exploring our culture's fascination with murder stories in Only She Came Back.

This book has some strong similarity to the Gabby Petito case, and I felt a strong sense of déjà vu during the opening chapters of the story. 

The online reviews are lukewarm, with most readers giving the book 3 stars.  Many reviewers complain about the similarities to Gabby Petito. 

I don't use a number rating system, but I would probably go with 3-3.5 stars for this book.  Using my own description system, I will go with a rating of good to very good.  I enjoyed reading the book, even though some parts are a bit weak.

The Compound and The Fallout by S. A. Bodeen

The Compound duology was written by S. A. Bodeen and was published by Feiwel & Friends.

1.  The Compound, 2008
2.  The Fallout, 2013

Publisher's summary:

Eli and his family have lived in the Compound for six years.

The world they knew is gone.

Eli's father built the Compound to keep them safe. Now, they can't get out.

He won't let them.

This is a pretty short summary, but it's really all that can be said in order for the book to be appreciated as intended.  I heard about this book via a thread of YA dystopian book recommendations on Reddit.  I opened up the free sample on Amazon and began reading. 

Something struck me as a little odd, and I'm sure that the author wanted readers to pick up on it.  This caused me to want to know more.  I was compelled to keep reading.

As soon as I finished the sample, I closed it and hit the purchase button immediately.  I opened up the Kindle app on my iPad and continued reading without pause.

Usually, I finish the sample and take a few minutes to assess whether I enjoyed the sample enough to purchase the book.  Sometimes I skim the first few reviews.  In this case, my decision came with no thought required.  It likely was the fastest I have ever purchased a book after reading the sample.  

I read the entire book in less than 24 hours and immediately continued with the second book.  I also read it in around 24 hours.

If you think you might be interested in reading The Compound, do not go looking for more detailed summaries, and avoid all online reviews.  Most importantly, stay away from anything having to do with the second book, The Fallout.  The publisher's summary of that book spoils the first book.

Just read the free sample found on Amazon, and make your decision based on how you feel about it.

In reflecting about my reading experience, the early part of the first book contains many mundane details, so it's not that exciting.  I didn't much mind, since I was focused on figuring out whether I was right about what I suspected.

The Compound and The Fallout are highly suspenseful books.  The Compound is overall outstanding, and The Fallout is excellent, just a step down from the first book.

Many Books Listed on eBay and Etsy

I have managed to list a rather large quantity of books on eBay and Etsy in the last week.

Jennifer's Series Books on eBay

The new eBay listings include:

Icelandic, Finnish, and Spanish Nancy Drew books
Beverly Gray at the World's Fair
2 issues of Mystery & Adventure Series Review
2 Biff Brewster books
some Judy Bolton picture cover books
some first printing Judy Bolton dust jacketed books
Vicki Barr #11 in picture cover
hardcover Judy Bolton #39 The Strange Likeness
signed Leo Edwards books
Applewood Nancy Drew books
early printing of Nancy Drew #9 in dust jacket
Dana Girls Guide
book with Judy Bolton #1 and 2 original manuscripts
3 Nancy Drew textured flashlight editions
a Nancy Drew book signed by Harriet Adams
some bulk lots

Jennifer's Series Books on Etsy

The new Etsy listings include:

a variety of Trixie Belden hardcover books
Nancy Drew books in dust jacket
tweed Nancy Drew books
paperback Nancy Drew books
original text Nancy Drew picture covers
revised text Nancy Drew picture covers
books by R. L. Stine
Rick Brant Danger Below!
tweed Dana Girls books
Dana Girls beige spine picture covers
solid blue Nancy Drew books
tweed Judy Bolton books

This is about all that I will be listing for the foreseeable future.  I might list a few more items, but this is about it.  The next time I list books will probably be around October.  

In around three weeks, I will be closing both of the stores temporarily.  I do this just before school starts each year.  The stores are usually closed until around October, depending upon how everything goes.  And I do not expect things to go well at all.  We have new textbooks this year, and there's some other stuff going on that doesn't bode well.  If you want to buy any books from me, make sure you do so by the first few days in August.

The Michael Vey Series by Richard Paul Evans

The Michael Vey series is written by Richard Paul Evans and is published by Simon & Schuster under the Simon Pulse imprint.

 1.  Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25, 2011
 2.  Michael Vey: Rise of the Elgen, 2012
 3.  Michael Vey: Battle of the Ampere, 2013
 4.  Michael Vey: Hunt for Jade Dragon, 2014
 5.  Michael Vey: Storm of Lightning, 2015
 6.  Michael Vey: Fall of Hades, 2016
 7.  Michael Vey: The Final Spark, 2017
 8.  Michael Vey: The Parasite, 2022
 9.  Michael Vey: The Traitor, 2023
10.  to be released late 2024

Publisher's summary for Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25:

To everyone at Meridian High School, fourteen-year-old Michael Vey is nothing special, just the kid who has Tourette’s syndrome.  But in truth, Michael is extremely special—he has electric powers.  Michael thinks he is unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor has the same mysterious powers.  With the help of Michael's friend, Ostin, the three of them set out to discover how Michael and Taylor ended up with their abilities, and their investigation soon brings them to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric teens—and through them, the world.

Michael discovers that he is part of a group of 17 teenagers who all have electric powers—basically superpowers.  The teenagers call themselves the Electroclan.  A group called the Elgen are responsible for their existence.  The Elgen are money- and power-hungry terrorists.  I cannot overstate how evil the Elgen leader Dr. Hatch is.  He tortures, maims, and kills people in the most horrific ways imaginable.  

The writing is simple and heavy on dialogue.  The books fit best into the young adult category due to the age of the characters, the violence, and the overall plot.  However, these books could be consumed easily by middle-grade readers.

Michael's best friend, Ostin, is a walking encyclopedia.  He knows everything and spouts off knowledge about any location visited by the Electroclan.  In the early books, I found Ostin's commentary to be fun.  Later in the set, way too much text is devoted to Ostin's knowledge.

The story moves very fast with minimal descriptions.  Something is always happening.  The books also have great humor.  I read very fast and found the story to be extremely engaging.

Even though I greatly enjoyed the story arc, the books are wearying at times.  There is a lot of repetition in how the plots unfold.  In every book, Michael and his friends attack the Elgen and do so against insurmountable odds, like attacking the Elgen when they have thousands of troops in place.  The teens predictably lose and nearly die (sometimes a teen or other character does die) but then somehow most everyone miraculously manages not to be killed.  Rinse, repeat for each subsequent book.

Books 2 through 4 are quite repetitious, then the reader starts to learn new information at around book 5, which adds interest.  

I quit reading the series after I finished book 7, for several reasons.

First, much of book 7 centers around new secondary characters who are of little interest.  I skimmed through most of the parts that center on these characters, certainly at least 100 pages of text.  This was just filler for a thin story.

Second, the series jumps the shark with book 7.  Michael's power develops to the point where he is insanely unstoppable.  He is absent for most of book 7 and is presumed dead, but I knew he wasn't dead.  The Michael Vey series has additional titles, so I knew Michael had to be alive.  It is apparent for much of the book that Michael will reappear near the end and save the day.  That keeps the book from being truly suspenseful.

Third and most important, book 7 is the end of the original story arc.  Book 8 was not published until five years later.  It's apparent that the author decided to cash in with a new story arc tacked onto the existing series. 

While I enjoyed my reading experience (except for book 7), I want to leave the story where it ends with book 7.  That book does have a distinct and satisfying conclusion.  After the series is truly finished, I might go back and read the later books, but I probably won't.

The Chaperone by M. Hendrix

The Chaperone by M. Hendrix was published by Sourcebooks Fire on June 6, 2023.

Publisher's summary:

"Hendrix's dystopian society is somewhat of a Handmaid's Tale for YA, and offers a dark world with a glimmer of hope."— Booklist, STARRED review

Like every young woman in New America, Stella knows the rules:

Deflect attention.

Abstain from sin.

Navigate the world with care.

Give obedience.

Embrace purity.

Respect your chaperone.

Girls in New America must have a chaperone with them at all times.  Because of this, Stella is never alone.  She can't go out by herself or learn about the world.  She can't even spend time with boys except at formal Visitations.  Still, Stella feels lucky that her chaperone, Sister Helen, is like a friend to her.

And then the unthinkable happens.  Sister Helen dies suddenly, and Stella feels lost.  Especially when she's assigned a new chaperone just days later.

Sister Laura is... different.  She has radical ideas about what Stella should be doing.  She leaves Stella alone in public and even knows how to get into the "Hush Hush" parties where all kinds of forbidden things happen.  As Stella spends more time with Sister Laura, she begins to question everything she's been taught.  What if the Constables' rules don't actually protect girls?  What if they were never meant to keep them safe?

I am quite familiar with The Handmaid's Tale story even though I've never read the book.  I tried the Kindle sample of the book in 2022, but I did not care for the writing style.  It was too disjointed for me.  Instead, I watched the Hulu television series, which I enjoyed, even though the show is crazy.

As I began reading The Chaperone, I saw the obvious similarities to The Handmaid's Tale.  While I found the early part of the story to be interesting, I also felt like I was reading a story that I already knew.

Stella goes to one of the "Hush Hush" parties.  It's quickly apparent to the reader that the parties are for sex only, and mainly so that the boys can rape the girls.  Stella is a bit slow to figure it out, which I found annoying.  She comes very close to being raped.

After that, Stella decides that she wants out, and this was where the story finally became compelling for me.  I was quite engaged from that point on.

Overall, this book is very good to excellent.  It is set up for a sequel, so hopefully another book will be written.