Books The Sign in the Smoke (12) (Nancy Drew Diaries) by Carolyn Keene (Author)

The Sign in the Smoke (Nancy Drew Diaries #12)

By Carolyn Keene

Overview

The Sign in the Smoke is the twelfth installment in the Nancy Drew Diaries series. This suspense-filled volume follows Nancy Drew, Bess Marvin, and George Fayne as they become counselors at Camp Cedarbark, a girls’ summer camp that Bess attended as a child. The narrative blends classic sleuthing with eerie campfire legends, creating a tense and mysterious atmosphere.

Plot Summary

Camp Cedarbark’s Troubled Past
Nancy, Bess, and George head to Camp Cedarbark with the aim of helping the new owners revive the camp’s reputation. The camp had been shut down years prior after a tragic incident—a child drowned in the lake, fueling local legends about a haunting123.

Supernatural Rumors and Sabotage
On arrival, the girls hear chilling stories that the ghost of the drowned girl may still haunt the camp. Although Nancy remains skeptical, soon she experiences something disturbing: she is pulled underwater during a swimming lesson by a mysterious presence with long, silvery hair23.

Escalating Incidents
The tension heightens when the campers’ sleeping bags vanish and reappear drenched by the lakeshore. Additional acts of sabotage—including missing items and unsettling warnings—raise concern for campers’ safety and suggest someone is trying to sabotage the reopening123.

Investigation
Determined to protect her friends and campers, Nancy investigates the strange occurrences. She must separate superstition from fact and uncover whether they are dealing with a supernatural threat, a vengeful saboteur, or both23.

Major Themes

Rationality vs. Superstition:
Nancy epitomizes analytical thinking, determined to find a logical explanation for the ghostly rumors that grip the camp.

Courage and Friendship:
The trio demonstrates loyalty, resourcefulness, and courage as they work together to keep the campers safe.

Confronting the Past:
The novel explores how past traumas and unresolved histories can influence the present, both through real dangers and persistent legends.

Style & Readership

Atmosphere:
The story is infused with classic summer camp nostalgia, including lake swims, campfire stories, and group activities, but with a sinister undertone.

Audience:
Aimed at middle-grade readers and fans of contemporary Nancy Drew mysteries, especially those who enjoy a mix of realistic investigation and spooky legends.

Core Takeaway

The Sign in the Smoke delivers an atmospheric, fast-paced mystery that keeps readers guessing between logic and legend. Through teamwork and courageous sleuthing, Nancy and her friends unravel the real truth behind Camp Cedarbark’s haunted reputation123.