The Missing Mitt

The Hardy Boys: Secret Files #2

by Franklin W. Dixon, Scott Burroughs (Illustrator)

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Frank and Joe are excited as their Little League team prepares to play the last game of the season, but when the team's good luck charm, a baseball mitt, disappears, they try to find it before they lose the game.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Childrens, Sports, Juvenile, Middle Grade, Chapter Books

112 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Franklin W. Dixon is the pen name used by a variety of different authors who were part of a team that wrote The Hardy Boys novels for the Stratemeyer Syndicate (now owned by Simon & Schuster). Dixon was also the writer attributed for the Ted Scott Flying Stories series, published by Grosset & Dunlap.
Canadian author Leslie McFarlane is believed to have written the first sixteen Hardy Boys books, but worked to a detailed plot and character outline for each story. The outlines are believed to have originated with Edward Stratemeyer, with later books outlined by his daughters Edna C. Squier and Harriet Stratemeyer Adams. Edward and Harriet also edited all books in the series through the mid-1960s. Other writers of the original books include MacFarlane's wife Amy, John Button, Andrew E. Svenson, and Adams herself; most of the outlines were done by Adams and Svenson. A number of other writers and editors were recruited to revise the outlines and update the texts in line with a more modern sensibility, starting in the late 1950s.
The principal author for the Ted Scott books was John W. Duffield.

Reviews

[Bill Riggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun kid’s adventure with the Hardy Boys. A championship Little League game in jeopardy when the star player’s lucky mitt goes missing. Will the Hardy’s be able to solve the mystery in time? Will the Bayport Bandits win their Little League championship?

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son and I have read this book twice now 4 years apart to the month. Part of his schoolwork is they like the kids to read at least 20 minutes a day and parents need to sign off on it. When he was younger and really struggling, I would often read to him. This time he read the whole book to me. He read from his paperback edition, and I had the book open on my laptop, following along. That way when he struggled with words or mixed them up, I could help out. He really enjoyed the book and still wants to read the remaining 17 that are currently available in the series. These are very different than the Blue hard Cover Hardy Boys Mystery Stories I had when I was his age. But it was still a fun read.

The chapters in this volume are:
1 The Big Game
2 Racing the Clock
3 Practice Makes Problems
4 The Missing Mitt
5 The Six Ws
6 A Surprise Witness!
7 Strike Three, You’re Out!
8 Triple Play
9 Deep in the Outfield
10 Secret File #2: A Home Run!

And like the previous book there is a short two-page comic strip style vignette at the end. But back to this story. Frank and Joe hardy play for the Bayport Bandits little league baseball team. They are playing in the championship game against the Johnston Jupiters. But right before the big game the Bandit’s first baseman Jason Prime, son of legendary big league pitcher Willy “Winner” Prime, has his prized mitt go missing from their pile of gear. And one of the biggest and best players in the league Connor Hound was seen near their pile of gear. The hardy brothers are trying to figure out what happened to the mitt. Joe wont play without it and them team is always playing short. When the hardy’s get benched by their coach, they know the only chance of winning is to find the mitt and discover what really happened. And unlike their first adventure being outside at a public part almost anyone could have done it. They need to work the 5 W’s and use their budding detective skills.

But to find out if they recover the mitt and save the game. You will need to pick up this book and give it a read. It is another fun read in a great series of books introducing the hardy Boys to younger audiences.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books in the Hardy Boys Secret Files Series.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Good: The overall mystery was cute and fun, and the brothers used their usual detective skills to figure it out. It was a little bit tamer than usual for this franchise--not as much action or peril--but, I still enjoyed it. The illustrations were good, too...

The Bad: but, there were too many of them, which was a bit annoying. Also, the "exclusive" comic strip showed Frank and Joe not acting very intelligently, which is...well, not them.

Conclusion: It had its moments, but, overall, I prefer the original series or Undercover Brothers to this. Younger readers may enjoy it, though.

[Geordie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Hardy Brothers are part of a little league team in the championships; when the star player's mitt is stolen they work to solve this mystery. Meanwhile the star player literally does nothing but sulk. He won't play with another mitt to try and help his team, he just sulks. They Hardy Boys question someone about the theft, their coach thinks they're accusing him of being a thief and benches them. But hey! They find the mitt, and all three of them can come back to the game!

No, the answer is no - if you can't join the team when they need you, take a hike. And because they were trying to find the mitt means they WEREN'T accusing the guy of theft?

A tolerable mystery, and pretty good characters, but the behavior modeled is of being a jerk and getting away with it. No thanks.

[TheBookWorm🐛 🐛 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because Frank and Joe find there friend's missing glove and they almost win the game.

[Brittany Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hi my name is Colton and I am going to share my book review about the Hardy Boys The Missing Mitt by Franklin W. Dixon. I think it has a cool name and it is a good book. The main characters are Jason, Joe, Frank, Mr. Mack and his dog and Conor Hound. This book is about Jason missing his special baseball mitt and refusing to play his baseball game unless he finds it. This is a realistic fiction mystery book. My favorite part is when they're searching for the glove. I like this mystery book and anyone of all ages who likes mystery would like this book too.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie and I differed on our ratings. He said 4.5 because it was “an exciting mystery about baseball.” I would give it a 3 for being quite predictable and even annoying at times with some details not making any sense (timing, baseball rules, etc.). Apparently better for kids than adults. 😉

[Lisa Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son and I loved this book and predicted that Lucy the dog stole the mitt. My son noticed that the money box from the first story was also in the ditch. The dog dug that had the mitt in it. We didn’t like that the baseball game ended in a tie.

[Cat Denmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book because it had a lot of mystery. It was about something that went missing, and you didn't figure out the solution until the very end. I loved that the two brothers tried to figure out everything and didn't stop until they solved it. -9yo boy

[Carter Sievers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. I honestly thought someone else stole his mitt. I liked this book

[Hannah Joly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for students to read if involved or interested in baseball, softball, or other sports.

[Vidyuth Gowtham · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Richard Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another enjoyable adventure for The Hardy Boys.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my 7 year old and he really liked it. He likes all the Hardy Boys Secret Files books.

[Marné Hawkes Skelton Yates · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my son (8) who isn't a fan of reading, and he loved it! He wants the whole series, now.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hardy Boys book 2 and this one was a good one so this kid whose father was a real baseball player always bring his mitt (lucky mitt from dad) to his little league games and it goes missing at the big game and this young man blames player(s) from the opposing team which cause a big issue and its up to the boys to figure it out and save the game...good book

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was the biggest game of the year. The Bayport Bandits and the Johnston Jupiters would play each other. Both teams were undefeated. Frank and Joe rushed to the field as they were late! Luckily they made it to the field on time and ready to play. Right before the game was about to begin Jason realized he was missing something. It was his lucky baseball mitt! Lucy, a dog who loves to play fetch, ended up taking the mitt by mistake. The boys joined the game just in time. Both teams played very hard and they decided to call it a tie.

[Terry]

This is a light, easy read. A missing mitt and baseball are at the center of the story, but there is a lot more to it. Short chapters, wide-set type with lots of white space, and some larger illustrations will make this appealing to kids just moving to chapter books.

To read our full review, go to the Reading Tub.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hardy Boys are back solving mysteries for a new generation of young boy readers. A quick read, The Missing Mitt is a good pick for a second or third grader who likes mystery, baseball, or both. Early readers will appreciate the short chapters and frequent breaks for illustrations. The "bonus feature" comic strip at the end may also entice reluctant readers to finish the whole story to get to the extras.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading the Hardy Boys when I was younger (along with Nancy Drew), and I am so glad that they are being modernized and reintroduced for a new generation to enjoy. This was just as good as they ever were. This would be a great mentor text for introducing mystery genre, as well as predicting. I will be looking for these to add to my classroom library. It is great to see some of my childhood favorites coming back to life in a more modern way.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great kid-size mystery featuring the Hardy Boys! There's a nice progression that lets younger readers have a chance to figure out the mystery on their own, although adults will likely spot the culprit immediately. (I mean, duh?) Still a great read, and includes a fun mini-comic at the end! Definite recommend to fans of the Hardy Boys, mysteries, and/or baseball!

[BigBrother · Rating 5 out of 5]

the missing mitt was good. in this book frank and joe sothf the mistre. i think pich rs i this book help me ondrshtand it mor. ther was a missing mitt in it to. i likd it.

[Alison Durbin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The famous Hardy Boys have been modernized in this series, and young readers will enjoy solving these new mysteries. This book was fine for me. It was a really quick read and easy to predict. I think kids will enjoy trying to solve the case with the Hardy boys.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Um, not very entertaining by my standards, and I like kids books! This just was a real yawner. Jacob, my six year, did like it however.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was awesome because it was about baseball.

[Matthew Ridley · Rating 3 out of 5]

My brother is reading it to me.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silver Knight, 2012
This is on our grade 3 list this year, a solvable mystery with a tight focus: find a lucky baseball mitt before the big game ends. Illustrated.

[Shannon Rickert · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was really good i wood recommend for girls or boys. i wish we had more

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I figured this mystery out a lot quicker then they did, but I still liked it a lot.

[Rohan Varshik]

nice