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Hardy Boys Clue Book #1
The Video Game Bandit
Frank and Joe are on a mission to track down a thief in the first book in an all-new, interactive Hardy Boys chapter book mystery series. Includes space for readers to jot down their own ideas and solutions to the case!
Bayport Elementary is throwing a fundraiser so they can go on an end-of-the-year trip. Ellie Freeman’s parents have volunteered their house for the event, and neighbors have donated all sorts of prizes to be raffled off including movie tickets and gift certificates to Fun World. But the best prize of all is a brand-new ZCross50000, a video game system that every kid has been drooling over.
But sometime during the event, the ZCross goes missing. Can Frank and Jo figure out who took the prize before it’s too late to save the big school trip?
Bayport Elementary is throwing a fundraiser so they can go on an end-of-the-year trip. Ellie Freeman’s parents have volunteered their house for the event, and neighbors have donated all sorts of prizes to be raffled off including movie tickets and gift certificates to Fun World. But the best prize of all is a brand-new ZCross50000, a video game system that every kid has been drooling over.
But sometime during the event, the ZCross goes missing. Can Frank and Jo figure out who took the prize before it’s too late to save the big school trip?
96 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2016
52 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Franklin W. Dixon
764 books997 followersFranklin 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 26, 2015
My thanks to Aladdin
I've always been a fan of Hardy Boys mysteries series, which I strongly believe is one of best mystery children books. They are the kind that I can see myself still reading when I am old and wrinkly.
I was super excited to read this new Clue Book series of Hardy Boys. As expected, I wasn't disappointed. For a book intended for young readers, this book still captured my full attention all the way through. Of course since I'm clearly not a young child, I could figure out the culprit very early, However, I still didn't consider it a flaw since the book was still pretty much awesome until the final page.
The illustrations were well done, too. I loved the drawings which were neat and eye-catching.
Anyway, this book makes me miss the good old time spending on reading this series, getting to know the characters and witnessing them solving the mysteries. I believe a lot of people, especially younger readers will enjoy reading this book as much as I did.
August 22, 2015
I often read some children novels to somehow have a light read in my currently-reading books, which commonly have scifi/dystopia, contemporary and YAs. And this is somehow quite disappointing because I've read a book or two of the Hardy Boys and the case is somehow easy to solve and the Hardy boys are overlooking or not giving much attention to the clues they have, but more focused on some suspicious persons. But since it is for children, it is quite alright.
September 6, 2020
This was a great book to read if you have two little boys that like to solve mysteries. Our kids were immediately pretending to be Frank and Joe, and looking for clues (who knows to what) for the handful of days it took us to get through this. They've also started keeping their eyes out for the classic Hardy Boys books at used book stores. I think it's a combination of loving this book and also their chance to collect something that's numbered and fill up a bookshelf of their own.
In The Video Game Bandit the boys are helping out with an auction to help send their baseball team to Florida. The big item, a new video game console, goes missing right before it's supposed to be auctioned off. The suspects are a girl with pink in her hair, or maybe the wait staff.
There's not a lot to go on. Besides teaching my boys what an auction was (they're 3 and 5), I really liked how methodical Frank and Joe were about figuring out what happened.
They start out by going through the 5 W's, (who, what, where, when and why) answering what questions they can. After that, they go about interviewing all the people who know anything or were in the vicinity. The boys also take notes when they discover a fact that seems relevant. My kids also learned what a stakeout is. The book pauses before revealing the mystery, asking the readers a few questions that will help young readers solve the mystery themselves.
In The Video Game Bandit the boys are helping out with an auction to help send their baseball team to Florida. The big item, a new video game console, goes missing right before it's supposed to be auctioned off. The suspects are a girl with pink in her hair, or maybe the wait staff.
There's not a lot to go on. Besides teaching my boys what an auction was (they're 3 and 5), I really liked how methodical Frank and Joe were about figuring out what happened.
They start out by going through the 5 W's, (who, what, where, when and why) answering what questions they can. After that, they go about interviewing all the people who know anything or were in the vicinity. The boys also take notes when they discover a fact that seems relevant. My kids also learned what a stakeout is. The book pauses before revealing the mystery, asking the readers a few questions that will help young readers solve the mystery themselves.
September 9, 2015
This Version Works for Me, and for Younger Readers
We all know who the Hardy Boys are, and we've all seen the original Hardy Boys books - both the original pre-War versions and the revised and modernized reissues from around the 60's. But, there have been many more series since then, all of them, of course, written by Franklin W. Dixon. This particular volume is the latest variation on the Boys' adventures. It's worth summarizing which series is which because there is a great deal of difference in the target reader demos, and the accompanying complexity and violence, for each series. (I've borrowed freely from a number of internet sources to draft this summary and I think it's generally correct.)
Starting in 1979 we began to get 131 more "traditional" Hardy Boys Mysteries that follow on the original 59 books. That series continued to 2005 and followed the original Hardy Boys style. From 1997 to 2000 we got "The Clues Brothers" for elementary school readers. They were simplistic and pretty bad and the series was retired early. "Undercover Brothers" ran from 2005 to 2012 and featured older Hardy Boys involved in more realistic and violent crimes. They are narrated in the first person. They have since been rebooted as "The Hardy Boys Adventures" and that series is still running. (There's also something called the "Casefiles", which is also for older readers.)
Which brings us to this book. From 2010 to 2015 we have 19 volumes of "The Hardy Boys Secret Files", which feature the Hardy Boys as grade school detectives. That series has now been rebooted as "The Hardy Boys Clue Book". This "Clue Book" series features the same younger Hardy Boys, but adds an interactive element by inviting the reader to detect along with the Boys. "The Video Game Bandit" is the first book in this brand new series. So, what do we think of it?
"Video Game Bandit" is better written, better plotted, and generally more engaging than the very lame "Clues Brothers" series. So, if, like me, you were dismayed after picking up one of those books, don't despair. "Video Game Bandit" is still aimed at younger readers, and the crime, (here, a fancy gaming system is stolen from a charity auction), is fairly straightforward, but it is all around a better and more entertaining reading experience.
The mystery isn't very demanding and there aren't too many clues, but the hallmark of Hardy adventures always seemed to me to be the interactions the boys have with each other and with the various witnesses and suspects. More care is invested in trying to create distinct secondary characters and in scene setting, and this strikes me as a virtue in the sense that younger readers get to read an actual balanced work of fiction instead of a bare procedural like you get with Encyclopedia Brown.
So, don't despair if you tried "The Clues Brothers". This is a decent early reader entry in the Hardy Boys canon, and struck me as worth a try.
Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-54-days Adobe ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
We all know who the Hardy Boys are, and we've all seen the original Hardy Boys books - both the original pre-War versions and the revised and modernized reissues from around the 60's. But, there have been many more series since then, all of them, of course, written by Franklin W. Dixon. This particular volume is the latest variation on the Boys' adventures. It's worth summarizing which series is which because there is a great deal of difference in the target reader demos, and the accompanying complexity and violence, for each series. (I've borrowed freely from a number of internet sources to draft this summary and I think it's generally correct.)
Starting in 1979 we began to get 131 more "traditional" Hardy Boys Mysteries that follow on the original 59 books. That series continued to 2005 and followed the original Hardy Boys style. From 1997 to 2000 we got "The Clues Brothers" for elementary school readers. They were simplistic and pretty bad and the series was retired early. "Undercover Brothers" ran from 2005 to 2012 and featured older Hardy Boys involved in more realistic and violent crimes. They are narrated in the first person. They have since been rebooted as "The Hardy Boys Adventures" and that series is still running. (There's also something called the "Casefiles", which is also for older readers.)
Which brings us to this book. From 2010 to 2015 we have 19 volumes of "The Hardy Boys Secret Files", which feature the Hardy Boys as grade school detectives. That series has now been rebooted as "The Hardy Boys Clue Book". This "Clue Book" series features the same younger Hardy Boys, but adds an interactive element by inviting the reader to detect along with the Boys. "The Video Game Bandit" is the first book in this brand new series. So, what do we think of it?
"Video Game Bandit" is better written, better plotted, and generally more engaging than the very lame "Clues Brothers" series. So, if, like me, you were dismayed after picking up one of those books, don't despair. "Video Game Bandit" is still aimed at younger readers, and the crime, (here, a fancy gaming system is stolen from a charity auction), is fairly straightforward, but it is all around a better and more entertaining reading experience.
The mystery isn't very demanding and there aren't too many clues, but the hallmark of Hardy adventures always seemed to me to be the interactions the boys have with each other and with the various witnesses and suspects. More care is invested in trying to create distinct secondary characters and in scene setting, and this strikes me as a virtue in the sense that younger readers get to read an actual balanced work of fiction instead of a bare procedural like you get with Encyclopedia Brown.
So, don't despair if you tried "The Clues Brothers". This is a decent early reader entry in the Hardy Boys canon, and struck me as worth a try.
Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-54-days Adobe ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
April 18, 2021
Previewed this one before deciding if it would be appropriate for my 7-year-old. I really appreciated that it was without foul language or instances of children being unkind to others. Overall, I didn't find it to be a very enthralling story but it certainly is appropriate contextually for young readers who enjoy mystery books.
January 1, 2022
What is great about the new Hardy Boys series are the short chapters. Reluctant readers can feel successful in accomplishing reading goals. My nine year old and I enjoyed the questions page before the "big reveal" of what happens in the mystery. It allows for discussion and reflection on clues in the book.
February 9, 2018
I have a son who wants to be a spy and a mechanic, so this modern take on Joe and Frank Hardy is fun before-bed reading! At 5 my kiddo is not exactly a master mystery solver, but it’s fun to watch him try to track the clues and begin thinking critically about details.
July 3, 2023
Hardy Boys one it was definitely a nice book to read t truly deserves a five star rating I think this has to be one of the best books I have read this entire summer cause this is comedy mixed with mysteries it truly is amazing
July 8, 2025
This was fun because it involved a big party and a missing video game. Because there was a big party, there were a lot of characters and pieces to the mystery. I'll definitely read more Hardy Boys clue books. -9yo boy
July 21, 2021
My 9 Year old thought it was fun. I knew what the ending would be very early, but my son took a little longer to catch on. Perfect for this age group.
April 15, 2023
I remember the hardcover novels growing up! Glad my kids are enjoying this version at night while I read it to them! A great bit of nostalgia to share!
May 9, 2023
I read this with my 5YO and it was fun to introduce him to a mystery, but it wasn’t as engaging as other chapter books we’ve read together. We’ll probably try a different series next time.
October 17, 2015
I received a free copy of this book from Edelweiss. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
The Hardy Boys have been captivating readers for generations. Now, the next generation can fall in love with the young sleuths as they go on adventures that are more modern and in-touch with the children of today. The Clue Book series is a new reboot of The Hardy Boys for elementary school readers, and it starts off pretty well with The Video Game Bandit.
Frank and Joe are helping host a fundraiser for their local sports team, the Bayport Bandits. One of the items on the auction list is the much-coveted ZCross5000, a new gaming system that is sold out everywhere. However, when the time comes to auction it off, the system has gone missing! Frank and Joe race to uncover where the gaming system went before the auction ends without meeting their fundraising goal.
There is a stopping point before the thief is revealed so that readers can write down clues and who they believe is to blame. I believe that this is the "interactive" part the blurb talks about, and was slightly disappointed. At the very least, it should include multiple stopping points as Frank and Joe discover new clues along the way.
However, the story is simple and entertaining (I knew "whodunnit" almost immediately, although the target audience may not catch on so suddenly), the illustrations are well done and help point out important clues, and I enjoyed it as a quick read and new installment in a beloved canon.
The Hardy Boys have been captivating readers for generations. Now, the next generation can fall in love with the young sleuths as they go on adventures that are more modern and in-touch with the children of today. The Clue Book series is a new reboot of The Hardy Boys for elementary school readers, and it starts off pretty well with The Video Game Bandit.
Frank and Joe are helping host a fundraiser for their local sports team, the Bayport Bandits. One of the items on the auction list is the much-coveted ZCross5000, a new gaming system that is sold out everywhere. However, when the time comes to auction it off, the system has gone missing! Frank and Joe race to uncover where the gaming system went before the auction ends without meeting their fundraising goal.
There is a stopping point before the thief is revealed so that readers can write down clues and who they believe is to blame. I believe that this is the "interactive" part the blurb talks about, and was slightly disappointed. At the very least, it should include multiple stopping points as Frank and Joe discover new clues along the way.
However, the story is simple and entertaining (I knew "whodunnit" almost immediately, although the target audience may not catch on so suddenly), the illustrations are well done and help point out important clues, and I enjoyed it as a quick read and new installment in a beloved canon.
August 25, 2016
Grade 1 or 2 and up; mild, age-appropriate, and contemporary mystery about an Xbox-like gaming system that goes missing at the brothers' baseball team's fundraiser auction. It's short for a chapter book (less than 100 pages, with illustrations) and because of the subject matter and down-to-earth male protagonists, I could see this book being popular at Chandler. First in the series; at the Chandler Library.
June 29, 2021
Neither of us really enjoyed this. I had higher hopes given that it is an iconic series. The writing/plot was really watered down. It makes me wonder if there are modern day Hardy Boys novels that are more in keeping with the classic style or if this is what the series has become. Disappointing.
August 30, 2015
Perfect for 1-3 graders. Review to come.
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April 25, 2016easy chapter books column, May 2016
September 16, 2017
Great read! :D
January 8, 2026
Not very exciting
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews