Where I Read an Old Book for Young Readers

The Missing Chums by Franklin W. Dixon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I gave up sneering at books of any type a long time ago, and decided to have a go at this long-running series. It worked out okay.

It was a first for me, as I'm either too old or too young to read Hardy Boys, depending on how you look at it.

They were written for young readers, which I'm long past, alas. But they were also written for a generation before mine, most published 30+ years before I was born, and even in the 60s and 70s these seemed impossibly dated. So--I'm too old, and too young. Sorta.

They were still everywhere when I was a kid, at yard sales and on rec-room shelves, and I've always wondered if they were any good.

So I finally read one I had on hand for reasons. Turns out, yeah, pretty good. A decent read. Tons of plot holes--"Sure, kids, I'll let you be bait for the kidnappers!"--and other obvious flaws, but mostly fun. All action and dialogue. Lots of motorcycle riding, boating, climbing, and hunting around caves. Almost frantic with movement, actually, especially in so compact a book, but for many that's a plus. No time to get bored.

They're still not right for me, for many reasons, but if one can get past the quaint language, they could still be right for lots of young people. Best thing for a young reader is to find a long series that they know they like, whether it's Goosebumps or Baby Sitters Club or Archie digests or whatever, and for some kids it could be these (or Nancy Drew). And if you can buy a handful of paperbacks cheap down at Goodwill, all the better. :)


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