Frank and Joe have taken the ultimate challenge: a rigorous pre-astronaut training program at the Space and Rocket Center. But in a course designed to simulate the actual conditions of space flight, the Hardys discover that the risks are great: Someone is out to scuttle the mission!
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.
This book seems sorta tailor made for me. It's gone that corny bubble gumshoe detectiveness that I love and it involves astronaut training. Plus, it is as completely insane as only 90s Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew books can be.
But my problem was with the ending. I don't expect subtle in a mystery book for kids but I expect there to be at least SOME surprise. Here, the ending was telegraphed from almost the first chapter. Only one character had an motivation. The red herring suspects fall apart with even five seconds of thought. It a way, it's a throw back to some of the 70s and 80s Hardy Boys books. That's not a good thing. I think this one suffered from being one of the short Case Files novels. I clocks in at a very short 149 pages. Some of the others get up to a hundred pages longer... which gives them a little more room to create at least the illusion of false leads. Here an effort is made but even Joe doesn't buy into it for very long.
it's not the worst Hardy Boys book from my childhood I've reread as an adult but it's not one of the ones that holds up either.
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.
I love it, even though, the story wasn't complex and widely great. I knew it that it Greg Fontana who's causing the countinous accidents happening inside the Space Academy. I doubt it really at first, when Greg is against of Joe and Frank investigating the dangerous accident... In fact he was undoubtly suspicious. The part of this story intrigued and kept me interested is the space academy idea. If this became possibly happened, I would like to join!
Rated it 3.8/5!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
During their training program at the Space and Rocket center, Frank and Joe find someone trying to not only sabotage them, but the real mission, as well! Dixon will have young readers racing through this exciting entry!