Mildred A. Wirt (1905–2002)
Author of The Circle of Footprints
About the Author
Disambiguation Notice:
Mildred Wirt Benson's works were published under a number of pseudonyms including Frank Bell, Mildred Benson, Joan Clark, Julia K. Duncan, Alice B. Emerson, Frances K. Judd, Carolyn Keene, Don Palmer, Helen Louise Thorndyke, Dorothy West, Ann Wirt as well as her own name. She was one of a number of authors who wrote under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. Please do not combine the two.
There are other authors named "Joan Clark" and "Dorothy West". Do NOT combine this page with those split author pages.
Image credit: Mildred Wirt surrounded by the books she wrote under her own name
Series
Works by Mildred A. Wirt
Doris Force at Locked Gates; or, Saving a Mysterious Fortune (1931) — Author under pseudonym — 19 copies
Carolina Castle 4 copies
Il mistero del bungalow 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Benson, Mildred Wirt
- Other names
- Augustine, Mildred (birth name)
Wirt, Mildred A.
Clark, Joan
Wirt, Ann
West, Dorothy
Palmer, Don (show all 7)
Bell, Frank - Birthdate
- 1905-07-10
- Date of death
- 2002-05-28
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Ladora, Iowa, USA
- Place of death
- Toledo, Ohio, USA
- Places of residence
- Toledo, Ohio, USA
- Education
- University of Iowa (BA - English)
- Occupations
- children's book author
journalist - Short biography
- In addition to being a journalist and writing her own stories, she was also one of a number of hired ghostwriters for the Stratemeyer Syndicate. She wrote from outlines provided by the Syndicate under a number of pseudonyms, most notably for some of the early Nancy Drew volumes under the name Carolyn Keene.
Asa Wirt (first husband)
George Benson (second husband) - Disambiguation notice
- Mildred Wirt Benson's works were published under a number of pseudonyms including Frank Bell, Mildred Benson, Joan Clark, Julia K. Duncan, Alice B. Emerson, Frances K. Judd, Carolyn Keene, Don Palmer, Helen Louise Thorndyke, Dorothy West, Ann Wirt as well as her own name. She was one of a number of authors who wrote under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. Please do not combine the two.
There are other authors named "Joan Clark" and "Dorothy West". Do NOT combine this page with those split author pages.
Members
Reviews
The Clue of the Rusty Key (Dana Girls Mystery… by Carolyn Keene
An entertaining read about a rusty key, a villain doctor, and missing loot. I especially liked the feud between Lettie Briggs and the Dana girls. Lettie always tries to one-up the Danas, only to be put in her place eventually.
Penny Parker was one of the great series in young adult literature. Mildred Wirt wrote them, and with a much freer hand than she had writing the Nancy Drew series, she wrote Penny as she wanted to write Nancy. Perhaps for that reason, this was the series that Wirt preferred, and since I have nearly all of them, I can say they're pretty terrific.
An exciting opening and a thrilling and suspenseful conclusion make up for a smaller role played by Penny's pal Louise in this one, the final Penny Parker. The mystery deals with an old monastery and a strange cult leader who may be fleecing his flock.
A young girl apparently running away from home whom Penny and Jerry give a ride to ends up playing a pivotal part in the mystery, which involves an expensive sapphire. This entry is very wintery, with a lot of skiing, giving it atmosphere. Penny even gets trapped in the snow after an accident on the slopes.
The villain has some real menace in this final Penny Parker, as does his henchman. A local artist attempting to finish painting the grounds of the monastery adds some humor and color to the proceedings. Since this turned out to be the last entry in one of the great series for young adults, it's a shame Penny's pal Louise wasn't around more. But it's a quick, fun read, and very exciting. A fine entry in the series, and a nice way to say goodbye to Penny Parker, one of the most enjoyable series for young adults from a bygone era.… (more)
An exciting opening and a thrilling and suspenseful conclusion make up for a smaller role played by Penny's pal Louise in this one, the final Penny Parker. The mystery deals with an old monastery and a strange cult leader who may be fleecing his flock.
A young girl apparently running away from home whom Penny and Jerry give a ride to ends up playing a pivotal part in the mystery, which involves an expensive sapphire. This entry is very wintery, with a lot of skiing, giving it atmosphere. Penny even gets trapped in the snow after an accident on the slopes.
The villain has some real menace in this final Penny Parker, as does his henchman. A local artist attempting to finish painting the grounds of the monastery adds some humor and color to the proceedings. Since this turned out to be the last entry in one of the great series for young adults, it's a shame Penny's pal Louise wasn't around more. But it's a quick, fun read, and very exciting. A fine entry in the series, and a nice way to say goodbye to Penny Parker, one of the most enjoyable series for young adults from a bygone era.… (more)
This second novel in the Penny Parker series is a fun followup to the TALE OF THE WITCH DOLL. Penny is juggling two mysteries in this one, getting herself in a couple of tight spots. With the help of her Dad, her best friend, Louise, and another great character called Mud-Cat Joe, she’s on another adventure to find three men who disappeared from a spooky bed and breakfast, and a missing houseboat belonging to Mud-Cat Joe.
Another very enjoyable YA mystery story by Mildred Wirt, penned in 1939.
… (more)
Another very enjoyable YA mystery story by Mildred Wirt, penned in 1939.
… (more)
1 
MickeyMole | 2 other reviews | Oct 2, 2023 |
MickeyMole | 2 other reviews | Oct 2, 2023 | 
Penny Parker is no Nancy Drew, but still a fun read!
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