The Firebird Rocket

The Hardy Boys #57

by Franklin W. Dixon

The launching of the Firebird Rocket is endangered when a famous rocket scientist disappears without a trace on his way to the Woomera Monitoring Station in Australia. Assigned to the case, Fenton Hardy tells his sons he needs their help. And Frank and Joe must turn down a request that they find the missing son of a prominent senator. With courage, wit, and clever detective work, the young detectives begin to close in on the enemy, only to discover that the tables have been turned. Captured by their cunning adversaries, the Hardys face certain death! Will they escape? Will the Firebird Rocket ever be launched?

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

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

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

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series almost always delivers great fun, and this one is no exception. An exciting plot, plenty of action, lots of twists and turns...it's easy to see why these books continue to be read many decades after their initial publication.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Firebird Rocket is the penultimate volume of the original, traditional Hardy Boys book series-- the hardbound ones with the blue spine and back cover. I read the earlier books in the series in my youth but considered myself too old for the last handful when they appeared, but recently I decided to complete the set. This one appeared in 1978 and was written by Vincent Buranelli under the Franklin W. Dixon house name. The first thing I noticed was the blurbage on the back cover had been changed to "Anyone from 10 to 14 who likes lively adventure stories..." For decades they had specified "Boys," so I guess girls didn't have to hide them anymore. (It was just like in Next Gen, when they made it "...where no one has gone before.") It was a fun book, typical of the last decade of the original Hardys. Lots of action and travel, not much in-depth mystery or investigation, not too much character or description... Dad's working on a case involving a rocket and Joe and Frank help out and Chet goes along. (Actually, poor Chet causes such commotion and confusion that I wonder why they didn't sneak off and leave him.) There are several really poor uncredited interior illustrations, a big step down from earlier volumes. There was a comedic episode early-on that reminded me of the very early books, in which Chet tests his model rocket only to have in crash into a chicken coop. He later wins a fifteen-hundred-dollar prize from the high school science fair for the rocket (which I sure don't remember being an option in high school in the 1970s!), which he uses to pay his passage to Australia where the mystery is to be solved. The Boys didn't stay too close to home in the later books, even though they never aged. It's a very quick read, of course, but still fun after all these years.

[Bearcatgary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hardy Boys and Chet travel to Australia to attempt to find a missing rocket scientist. One of the last books in the original series, it definitely feels a little more modern than earlier books. Not bad, not great. It is what it is.

[David Ballesteros · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Firebird Rocket mystery by Frank and Joe Hardy was an exciting adventure in Australia. The boys had to find two missing people, a scientist and the Mayor of Bayports son. Clues led the Hardy's to got to Australia and eventually they found the scientist and the mayors son. It turned out the son was a government spy and captured the crooks who kidnapped the scientist. All ended well and the Hardy's were once again celebrated for their work.

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 3 out of 5]

When their father asks them to help solve the disappearance of a scientist involved in the launching of a new rocket, Frank and Joe call on Chet to help them track down not only the scientist, but the missing son of a politician, before they all end up on the wrong side of a gang out in Australia! Dixon delivers another suspenseful adventure sure to keep readers enthralled. Can the boys rescue these men in one piece?

[Zach W · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book The Firebird Rocket is a book written by Franklin W. Dixon with 3 main characters who’s Frank and Joe Hardy along with Chet Morton. The book starts off with an experiment that Frank and Joe are doing in which the person delivering sends the wrong thing and the house fills up with gas so they let the windows down and the person comes back and apologizes for his mistake. The hardy boys then get a call from their dad saying that they want them to search for a missing person named Dr Jenson and also Profesor Young who is a rocket teacher at Princeton University. They then have lots of clues and where to find them and it leads to a place in Australia called Alice Springs. They eventually found them, and found out that Professor Young was actually on the bad side. The Hardy’s are cornered when they're Dad shows up and saves the day. Arresting Professor Young & the thieves.

Dixon did a good job with suspense better than the other books I’ve read of his. He made sure to end every chapter with a bang, making you want to read on and see what happens. He did a good job with not as many characters. I do not know the reason why he named the book The Firebird rocket because most of the book had nothing to do about it and it was mainly just trying to find Dr. Jensen and Professor Young. Other than that it was a good book.


I would recommend this book to anyone. It was a pretty good book. If you would like suspense and mystery that is. If you like not a lot of characters to keep track of then that would be a good book for you.

[Aurora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice quick read as always, though I was kinda glad that this time, Mr. Hardy actually solves the case. And Chet actually does more to help them out. All those un-aging years with the Hardy boys are finally paying off!! Only thing is . . . I figured out the culprit almost from the get-go, waaaay too easy for me . . . which did make me wonder if the boys were getting a little slow (hence why both Mr. Hardy and I figured it out before the boys did!!). But, hey, they were trying to follow the clues and didn't quite notice what it was right in front of their noses all along. Ugh, oh well, still fun to read.

[Stacey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this adventure the boys travel to Australia. Two men are missing in two different cases but they verge together later. A rocket scientist did not show up at his hotel in Sydney. He carries sensitive information and is assumed to have been kidnapped for the knowledge. A Senators' son has also gone missing. Not much is known about either mans disappearance so the boys have to use many resources to find clues. Chet comes along as his new hobby is building rockets. As usual the boys are chased and followed by unknown people as they try to unravel this mystery.

[Saffron Mavros · Rating 3 out of 5]

An adventure that takes the Hardys across the world to Australia. But they manage to skillfully solve the case in a foreign country, chasing criminals across the country!

Michael Moran and Ponsley were well developed, interesting characters. Ponsley journeys across Australia with the Hardy boys adding a much needed spice to the story.

Professor Young and Smoky appeared seedy from the very beginning. It was good knowing my first hunch was correct! The rounding up of the gang by the joined forces of Mr. Hardy and Moran was a thrilling ending..!

[Kevin Findley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent entry in the series. Chet is here, but seems to disappear at various points, even when he is in the same room.

The connection between Frank and Joe's case and their father's really stretches the ability to suspend disbelief. Fenton even shows up in the penultimate chapter to basically solve everything for his sons.

Recommended for fans of the series and completists who need to read every book.

Find it. Buy it. Read it.

[Meshach Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this book was a great book and that the author did a good job with the mystery. I think that this book is like the other books in the series. It is a great book with action but no character development. I would recommend this book to readers 9-13 who like mystery books.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that this one, harkened back to the beginning of the series. It was a well plotted mystery that didn't veer off into a bunch of side stories or tangents. Added bonsu with this one, they Hardy Boys and Chet got to visit Australia.

[Ethan Hulbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

More rockets. And Australia! They even put the outline of Australia on the front cover, just in case you're confused. It was a good mystery though.

[Jaden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic mystery. Can't wait to read the next one in the Hardy Boy mysteries.

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one's pretty weird, because we don't know whose behind it to the very end which is a big departure from how these usually work.

[Sue Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite mystery
Love it
So close to finishing all of the books

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit too odd. Chet is just brought along for the LOLs. No, wait, he did case a hotel escape route pretty well.

When my sons can tell me what is going to happen next, it might be time to stop reading these…

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Nolan S · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I read is called “The Hardy Boys The Firebird Rocket”.By: Franklin W. Dixon. Some aspects of my book that affected me was when Frank and Joe Hardy found where the gang was hiding with the hostages that affected the story to cause it to now become an adventure when they find the hostages and then they go away from the gang that's trying to kill them and then they show up and start shooting all of them.The thing that most affected me was when they officially got the hostages back then the gang traps them again and tries to kill them now that they escaped.

One example that affected me was when the desk clerk called Joe and Frank Hardy to the desk two floors down that's when Dr.Jensen was the only one in the upstairs room and then the call was a threat and then they got trapped and are now all hostages. Another example is when Frank and Joe Hardy get called to go to Sydney,Australia and go there to help for a case, then now is when they are going in there car and on the highway and then a the speed at 80 miles per hour a car comes zooming by to make them pull to the side then the person came out of the car and claimed that he was trying to get the Hardy boys to stop for an important message that alerted them.That affected me by that was stupid decision for a way to stop them when they could have called them and that was a scary point.

I would 100% recommend this book,this was the best book I have read. If you like action packed,mysteries and adventure type of book I would recommend this book. Some reasons why I didn’t like the book was how it took so much time to get to the climax or the good part when it gets interesting. In my opinion it was not confusing it was pretty easy. In my opinion it would be easier to understand if you read most of the book at one time. You can get into the book very easy it’s so addicting it's so interesting.I would say it’s in the middle it’s not too easy it’s more hard at the beginning it’s a little confused. It almost feels like the book I read you can make a connection with war possibly in war they shoot at the enemy from helicopters like the book The Hardy Boys: The Firebird Rocket when they run away with the hostages and the gang starts shooting at the Hardy boys and the hostages. It is most like a mystery type of story tone, the whole story it’s a mystery from one to the other.

[Peyton Mohler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Firebird Rocket by Franklin W. Dixon is the book I currently just finished reading. I really liked this book. Fenton Hardy is a highly honored detective and both of his sons are following in his footsteps. Fenton is on a very special case in Florida and calls his two sons saying that he needs there help and they have to fly to Australia. The two boys and one of their best friends who tags along fly to Australia where they find out there mission. A NASA worker had been kidnapped right before the launch of the new rocket he had built. Something dangerous was up and the Hardy boys new it. They went through fire fights and many other dangerous ordeals but finally cracked the case as their father, Fenton Hardy, came in at the end of the story to help out and finish the case off. The end of the book is very mysterious and takes a while for you to find out what happens. As you can tell, this book has a lot of adventure and mystery schemes to it. I like these books because they make you want to keep reading and keep you on the edge of your seat thinking about what could happen next. I also like the characters in the book because they are the high school age so it makes it easier to relate to I believe. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes mystery books. Also I would recommend it to people who like to be on the edge and always wondering what is going to happen next. I really liked this book and these are some reasons why I gave it 4/5 stars. The only thing that I didn't quite like about it, is if it would have been longer and had some more detail to it. Other than that, it was a very well written and good book!

[Eric Espiritu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eric Espiritu
1st period Hirshman


Book: The Firebird Rocket
Author: Franklin W. Dixon

A. Teen girl and boys who like mystery books.

B. 5 stars

C. My thought about this book that it was really heart pounding and non-stop action. Every chapter I felt like I was in a movie! Loved it. I have one opinion and that is why does Chet always mess something up when there is something bad going on. My feelings toward this book was nervous, heart pounding, and suspenseful. Nervous because some parts I was hanging off my seat and not knowing what would happen. That goes for heart pounding too. Lastly suspenseful because it's a mystery book. C'mon you cant have suspense in a mystery book. Some ideas I had was to have the enemies showing up more and attacking them more. My judgment towards this book was it looked weird from the book cover but when I started to read it. I fell in the story and I just couldn’t put it down.

D. The big idea is to never trust anyone that looks all nice and sweet he/she might be the villain.

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Brandson Sarrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of the book I read is the Firebird Rocket, by Franklyn W. Dixon. This book was in the genre of fiction and the category of mystery. The story is about a group of teenagers who solve mysteries. In this particular story, they have to solve the mystery of the Firebird Rocket, a government satellite rocket that was going to be destroyed by criminals. The criminals threatened to destroy the rocket because they wanted money to rebuild it and use it as a weapon. I rated this book 5 stars because it as very interesting and exciting. I really like mystery books and this one kept me interested because there was a lot of action.

[Britney Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, The Firebird Rocket by Franklin W. Dixon, kept me turning pages until it was finished. I absolutely could not stop reading. The author does a spot-on job with descriptive vocabulary, and I found almost no parts of the book where I could not see what happened in my head. The only downside to the book was that there was a part in the middle The part when the Hardy Boys were chasing down Mike Moran in the desert where the plot dragged, for a period of about 5-7 pages. Besides that, however, this book is a must-read for all people who enjoy mysteries.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 3 out of 5]

From what I can tell from a cursory glance, this is the Hardy Boys I would have enjoyed the most of the series - due to its not blaming the Soviets for the rocket mystery, its focus on a Princeton laboratory, where some friends may come from (I don't remember exactly), and its slightly international scope, though it did not go into depth about the wonders of Australia.

So I am pleased with what the librarian directed me to read!

I've been buried in the fifties lately for whatever reason...

[10-11 Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about the two Hardy's doing another case.Only in this one it involves a rocket.The head person running the space program has been kidnapped so now the Hardy's have to go get him or the space program won't go according to plan.What the Hardy's don't know is that they are going to face a lot of obstacles to get the man back.

[Daniel Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

The hardy boys are on the case in the case of a missing scientist. The hardy's are lead to Australia of all places and quickly learn that a foriegn power may behind the kidnapping as they are trying to steal the secret of the firebird rocket. Chet & the Hardy's Dad also join in on the case as they round up the crooks and save the day.

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Hardy Boys because I can just pick them up and have a nice light read, which was exactly what I needed today after I had just finished a book written in old English.
This one was actually better thought out a planned then some of the others I have read. Though I thought the authors 'voice' fell a little short because it didn't sound quite like the other books.

[Brentman99 · Rating 3 out of 5]

In #57, the Boys travel to Australia to track down a missing scientist and son of a senator who is missing.

There are a couple of death-defying moments, but as usual, they pulled through.

Once again, the Boys are rescued in the nick of time.

There are some interesting twists that young adults may find interesting.

[William Land · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not one of the better Hardy Boys stories, but typical of the late 1970s offerings. I didn't think the use of the villain being the person who hired the young sleuths as being particularly clever in this book - mostly because it was the same plot thread that was used in the previous book!