The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Little Mermaid:

The Happy Hollisters #18

by Jerry West, Helen S. Hamilton (Illustrator)

Back in hardcover format after a 50-year absence -- now with bonus special pages!
The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Little Mermaid (#18 in the Happy Hollisters series)
While winging their way to Denmark the Happy Hollisters become friendly with a member of the Queen of Denmark’s staff. She is bringing home the Queen’s own valuable reproduction of the “Little Mermaid,” the famous statue that overlooks the harbor in Copenhagen. While she is showing the Hollisters the little figurine, another passenger expresses interest in seeing this rare treasure. His interest, however, strikes the five Hollister children as being more than just enthusiasm for the beauty and workmanship of the figurine. In the excitement of preparing to land at the Copenhagen airport, he is forgotten until, upon landing, the figurine is found to be missing.
From then on the Hollisters find themselves becoming more and more involved with the strange man with the beard and his rather peculiar activities. Much to the Hollisters’ surprise they find not only is the figurine an object of mystery, but the trail of the bearded man is leading them to a ring of international thieves and their search for a bejeweled treasure, hidden centuries ago. The Hollisters finally discover a clue to this treasure from the study of the history of the ship models hung in the churches of Denmark to honor lost seamen.
This new Hollister story should be a fine addition to the series, since it is the first time the Hollisters have traveled outside the Western Hemisphere.
First published in 1960, this charming mystery-adventure story, faithfully reproduced, is now available in paperback and eBook for the first time! Written for boys and girls between the ages of six and twelve, The Happy Hollisters are wholesome books, with an accent on humor and good, clean fun. Integrity always pays off and right wins over wrong. Parents, grandparents, and teachers love these books for their healthy celebration of life in simpler times. Kids are thrilled with the fast-paced action and will not want to put them down. The action-packed illustrations make the story – and the Hollister family – so vivid that the reader has a feeling of really sharing in on the adventures of this lovable and interesting family.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Classics, Middle Grade, Kids, Juvenile

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

The Happy Hollisters by Jerry West was actually written by Andrew E. Svenson, a prolific yet somewhat anonymous, writer of books for children. Jerry West was the pen name assigned to Svenson when he started writing The Happy Hollisters for the Stratemeyer Syndicate. The Stratemeyer Syndicate was a book packager, well-known for its development of children’s book series including Tom Swift, The Bobbsey Twins, The Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew. Many of these series were intended to have long publishing lives, and were written by multiple authors using the same pseudonym. The Happy Hollisters, however, were all written by Andrew Svenson, whose identity as Jerry West was kept secret until several years after his death in 1975.

Andrew Svenson was born in Belleville, NJ, in 1910, and his interest in writing started early. He was editor of his high school newspaper and yearbook at Barringer High School in Newark, and then went on to study Creative Writing at the University of Pittsburgh. After his graduation in 1932, he worked as a reporter and editor for the Newark Star Eagle and the Newark Evening News. He also taught creative writing courses at Rutgers University and Upsala College.

Andrew Svenson was encouraged by his friend Howard Garis (author of Uncle Wiggily) to try his hand at juvenile fiction. He joined the Stratemeyer Syndicate as a writer in 1948, where he contributed to established series as Franklin W. Dixon (The Hardy Boys) and as Laura Lee Hope (The Bobbsey Twins). The first volume in his own original series, The Happy Hollisters, was published in 1953 by Doubleday & Company, and he was made a partner in the Stratemeyer Syndicate in 1961. As he wrote and developed 33 titles in The Happy Hollisters, he was also creating additional series for children under other pen names: Bret King by Dan Scott and The Tollivers by Alan Stone, one of the first series written about and for African-American children.

Under various pseudonyms, Andrew Svenson wrote more than 70 adventure and mystery novels for children, which were published in 17 languages and sold millions of copies. The Hollister family was modeled on his own family and he often used actual Svenson family events and travels as the foundation for The Happy Hollisters books. He also kept copious newspaper clippings for story ideas, and interviewed hundreds of school children and teachers for additional suggestions. These ideas were then worked into his storylines, adding an educational element that was appreciated by parents and educators alike. The children loved the stories for their elements of danger and excitement geared to their comprehension level.

After his death in 1975, the Stratemeyer Syndicate assigned all rights to The Happy Hollisters to his widow, Marian Svenson; they subsequently became the property of The Hollister Family Properties Trust. The current publication was initiated by Andrew E. Svenson III, grandson of the author, on behalf of The Hollister Family Properties Trust.

Reviews

[Teresa]

If I (as my adult-self) were being honest, I'd rate this 4 stars; instead, I'm rating it as my very honest child-self. I owned this series, each book arriving in the mail read immediately, and this one was my favorite. It was read countless times and each time I imagined I too was visiting the statue of the little mermaid in Copenhagen.

*

9/21 addendum: I reread this book as a prelude to a trip I just returned from that included Copenhagen, so I too have now visited the little mermaid statue, not to mention Tivoli and the Kronborg castle in Helsingor, as did the Hollisters.

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile]

These books are some of my most treasured possessions from my childhood. Many of my collected books from the series were from each of my parents when THEY were little, and I continue to collect the books when I come across them at antique stores.

[Lou]

Although it is a children's reading, is quite entertaining and funny and the characters are cute. Overall, I think the whole series of The Happy Hollister are positive and with a good message. This kind of books are to read and enjoy.

[Mary Jane]

I read these books when I was young and I loved them. I'm reading them to my girls every night now. It has been so fun! I have a stack of them that I borrowed from my mother's house. My kids are loving them! They are cute mysteries solved by some kids in a family. They were published in the 1950s. They are clean and cute.

I just finished reading this to my kids last night. They loved it and can't wait to start a new Happy Holisters tonight!

[Kristina]

Loved it when I read it in 1968.

[Vintagebooklvr]

3 1/2 stars. A fun story filled with lots of interesting details about Danish life and culture. There is also a good kids' mystery to entertain as well.

[Timothy Finnegan]

I read the Happy Hollisters as a pre-pubescent. As a member of a large growing family I enjoyed the idealized family life and the relative freedom shared by the Hollister children. Also, I liked the settings, principally, the sea shore. They took real vacations with real accomodations and real meals unlike the large Air Force family I knew.

[Joy Gerbode]

Again an enjoyable read in this series. All are a little farfetched, and the "mysteries" are not well developed or exciting. But the stories are cute, it's fun to learn about the places they visit and histories, much of which is true, so very educational series. And lots of fun with these happy youngsters.

[Stephen]

We just finished this as a bedtime story. For me, it was just too silly and far-fetched to have five pre-teens breaking up an international ring of thieves. But my kids thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a good way to introduce the kids to Danish culture and geography.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer]

This was another one of my favorites. I liked the Danish locale and the fact that the mermaid was from the Hans Christian Andersen tale. Great series!

[SouthWestZippy]

My fourth grade teacher read this book to the class. Great children's mystery book. Years latter I read it again and still love it.

[Gerry]

The Hollister family, father John, general store owner of The Trading Post, mother Elaine, children Pete, the eldest at 12, Pam 10, Ricky, seven, Holly at six is a tomboy, and the youngest Sue is four years old, take a holiday to Copenhagen, Denmark. But on the flight they encounter a stranger who turns out to be crooked and who manages to swindle two passengers out of their possessions.

Firstly he views an expensive original sculpture of The Little Mermaid statue, which is a petite example of a bronze sculpture by Edvard Eriksen, depicting a mermaid turning human, based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, which is being taken for an exhibition loan. Unbeknown to anyone he manages to make a surreptitious swap with a cheap imitation that he is carrying with him and secondly in the process of doing this he manages to steal an expensive pen knife belonging to one of the Hollister boys.

None of this is spotted and it is only while going through customs that the thefts are realised by which time the thief is getting away. The Hollisters give chase to him but he has accomplices strategically placed to help him make his getaway.

And that is what this exciting story revolves around. The Hollisters get to know a Danish family and they become good friends and join together to chase around Copenhagen trying to locate the thief. The Tivoli Gardens Amusement Park is one centre that they often visit and the thief, who they have christened Mr Bushyface because he was wearing a false beard, is spotted there on one of their visits and they try to chase him but once again he outwits them.

With the Danish family giving support they also all hire bicycles and again they spot Bushyface but once more he manages to escape from them. Along the way they are picking up clues as to what he is doing and why, so they explore the avenues that this leads them to ... but once more, initially, no success.

They carry out research into the history of the Little Mermaid sculpture, located on a rock by the waterside at the Langelinie promenade in Copenhagen, and visiting this gives them further clues as to who Bushyface is and what else he is up to in his nefarious business, which also involves stealing wooden sculptured ships that are hung in various churches around the Danish capital and its environs.

Hair raising incidents abound for the searchers in this fast-moving adventure and their endeavour is eventually rewarded.

[Julie Barrett]

The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Little Mermaid (Happy Hollisters, #18)
Family travel to Denmark and they find many mysteries to solve. First one was on the airplane and the Royal art was taken from a woman who was returning it to the palace.
Next Pete's knife goes missing. Love hearing about all the adventures and sightseeing they are able to do.
They find other mysteries: loot in bottom of ships hung at churches, fishwives legend is unique and interesting to learn about.
So educational, glad the family got to go visit. They make so many friends and I love the sketches of the scenes.
Cheese is hilarious!

[Jeanne]

It took me a lot longer to read this book than it should have because I got sidetracked with library books that had a due date. I was a Happy Hollister devotee when I was a girl and anxiously awaited my new book in the mail each month. This book brought me back to a gentler time. The jargon is a throwback, as well. I enjoyed this book as much today as I did all those years ago. I'm planning to pass this book to my grandson who is just getting into chapter books.

[Margaret E. Beacom]

Another Fun Book!

I am 80 years old, but I still think it is fun to read these Happy Hollister books. I especially enjoyed this one because I have traveled to Denmark and Sweden before.
The Hollister children are charming and lovable, but I’m glad my 7 kids were not so accident-prone!

[Rachel]

This is clearly dated in the language they use, which wouldn’t be appropriate or acceptable today. However, it was a nice throwback to something I shared with my mom when I was a child and referenced many of the places I just went in Denmark!

[Matt Thompson]

Yikes! No Joey Brill or Will Wilson in this one! The story begins on the airplane with no mention of why the family is even going to Denmark in the first place. How can this international crime ring stay afloat with such petty crimes? Many unanswered questions in this one.

[Jim Sibigtroth]

Not Charles Dickens but good for young readers

These are decent mysteries for young readers though the writing, vocabulary, and family situations are somewhat old fashioned (around late 1950s to early 1960s). This might be a distraction for modern 21st century readers.

[Cheryl]

Probably my favorite so far

[Marce Araujo]

3.5

[Kimberly Zonaras]

This was always one of my fav HH book. And I found the mystery so entertaining and the feeling that I know more about Denmark now! So enjoying revisiting my childhood favorite books

[Remo]

Los Hollister es la serie de libros que me inició definitivamente en la lectura. Recuerdo haber leído el primero y, con todo el dinero que había ahorrado por mi primera comunión y en todos los años anteriores, ir a por los 32 restantes, que costaban 600 pelas cada uno. Los compré todos en la feria del libro de Ceuta, lo recuerdo perfectamente, y volví a mi casa con dos bolsas y una mochila llenas de libros, que me duraron tres meses exactamente, para sorpresa/preocupación de mi madre.
Cada libro es el mismo, con aventuras algo diferentes, y con los mismo personajes, que no evolucionan nada en toda la serie. Pete, Pam, Holly, Ricky, Sue, puedo recitar sus nombres treinta años después sin consultarlo. Yo siempre fui de los Hollister, despreciando a quieres eran de los siete secretos, los Cinco o (puaj) Puck.
Junto a Mortadelo, los tres investigadores de Alfred Hitchcock y (a petición de mi padre) las aventuras de Guillermo, comenzaron a formar mi universo lector. Y por ello, aunque sean libros de lo más intrascendente, los considero fundamentales.

[aem]

this series of bookers were so enjoyable! And I would re-read if I had more time!