Wipeout

The Hardy Boys #96

by Franklin W. Dixon

A windsurfing competition in the south of France that is plagued by a series of mysterious accidents draws the sleuthing attentions of Frank and Joe Hardy

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Young Adult, Thriller, Adventure, Classics, Childrens

149 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1989

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

[Mikayla]

I was pleasantly surprised by this addition to the Hardy boys saga. It mostly kept to the spirit of the originals, except with a lot more friendly teasing of each other. I just felt like they tried to shove too much action into the tiny book.

[Ethan Hulbert]

The France stuff was cool, but the windsurfing stuff... wasn't. Not a compelling enough mystery.

[Ed O]

I’ve never read this, but the cover is just so amazing.
But seriously what is going on? Can someone explain why Joe is holding some guy like that?

[Amelia]

3.75

[Kelly Rivera]

Surprise, everyone is the bad guy, but also nobody is the bad guy? This book featured an airplane almost taking out a windsurfer twice and a cover that looked like a gay romance novel.

[The Curious Reader]

When I first read Hardy Boys, I think I was in class 5, I had such a crush on Frank Hardy. I liked the brainy one over the brawny one and that sums up my first impression of Hardy Boys.
In their late teens, Frank and Joe Hardy take after their detective father Fenton Hardy. Frank is the older of the two and has more breakthroughs in the cases because he is the brainy one. Joe is the younger brother who more often than not is useful when things get hot and they need to fight their way out.
Like Nancy Drew, the books in the The Hardy Boys series re written by ghostwriters under the collective pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon. And yes, the earlier books were better than the latter ones.

[Jennifer Collins]

A short and fast read following the Hardy brothers when they start investigating a windsurfing competition, this isn't one of the best of the adventures in terms of either writing or excitement, but it is an entertaining enough diversion. Unfortunately, the Hardy Boys books just don't stand up as well when re-read in adulthood--too many little bits and pieces that stretch believability or betray rushed writing/editing in terms of writing and phrasing.

[Jebin]

Loved it.