When I first learned to read, one of my fondest memories was of following Nancy Drew's countless adventures investigating paranormal phenomena, trailing suspicious-looking and therefore clearly criminal characters, following a convoluted trail of ridiculously random clues, and humoring her sixth sense which she liked to call "a hunch," all of which inevitably lead to the triumphant vanquishing of evildoers.

She also had tons of good-looking boys falling all over her, had a fabulous car, and was always lunching on something delicious, usually at a picnic with said boys. What a fabulous role model for an eight-year old! She had style, brains, personality and some kind of shield of invincibility around her that never let her lose a case.

I don't think I ever owned the complete collection, but my mom still has a cardboard box with about 35 of the books in it. I asked her to send it to me, but she said it would be too expensive. Last time I was home though I grabbed one - one of my favorites and number 2 in the series: "The Hidden Staircase."

My roomate stumbled across what she thought at first was a miniature version of that book, because the cover art was exactly the same. What it actually is is a compilation of "tips" quoted from the original series, called, "Nancy Drew's Guide to Life," by Jennifer Worick.

I'm going to pick out my favorites from each chapter and share them with you.

Chapter One: Survival Strategies

"In the event of a carjacking, try to steer the vehicle toward the house of an off-duty state trooper or police officer. Of course, it helps to know where the aforementioned officer of the law resides." -From "The Scarlet Slipper Mystery"

"Cover your face immediately when confronted with an explosion. Obviously, it is good to avoid explosions in general." -From "The Mystery of the Fire Dragon"

"If you hear the telltale sounds of a helicopter, step away from a blaze in the fireplace. The copter might send a downdraft into the chimney and shower sparks all over your sleek coif." From "The Mystery of the 99 Steps."

"When pinned down by a large canine, instruct friends, family, even random passersby to turn a hose on the beast." From "The Mysterious Mannequin"

"If you lack backup when you happen upon crooks caught in the act, disguise your voice and pretend to be the police. If that fails to produce the desired result, throw a stone through a window to feign a gunshot." From "The Sign of the Twisted Candles."

Stay tuned for more sage advice from Chapter 2: Dating: A Primer