Honey Bunch and Norman Solve the Pine Cone Mystery

Honey Bunch and Norman #9

by Helen Louise Thorndyke

The original 1960 printing. Book and text itself are in very good condition with no markings. The dust jacket is on the book and has some normal wear and tear with a book of this age. Happy to send additional photos if desired.

180 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

A pseudonym used by multiple authors, including Josephine Lawrence (Honey Bunch #1-16), and Mildred A. Wirt (Honey Bunch #18-22).

The original "Honey Bunch" series was written from 1923 to 1954. In 1957, the series was revamped and retitled "Honey Bunch and Norman," with some of the original stories being recycled.

Series:
* Honey Bunch
* Honey Bunch and Norman

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a beloved series the Honey Bunch books were. The first book was published via the Stratemeyer Syndicate in 1923, seven years before Nancy Drew saw the light of day, and the sequel series—Honey Bunch and Norman—ran well into the 1960s. Book nine, Honey Bunch and Norman Solve the Pine Cone Mystery, is a delightful romp in the tradition of the Happy Hollisters, as six-year-old Gertrude Marian (aka Honey Bunch) Morton, her cousin Stub, and their friend Norman Clark spend a summer at Camp Pinecrest. For most kids this would be a summer of fun, games, and mild mischief, but if you know Honey Bunch and Norman, a mystery will find them one way or another.

Camp has its share of ups and down. Eight-year-old Jeff has a bit of a mean streak, and his pranks verge on spoiling the good mood. If Honey Bunch, Norman, Stub, and their new friends don't keep a close eye on him, Jeff might take things too far. Honey Bunch and Norman get a pleasant surprise when they meet a local artist named Mr. Miller and his two kids, both their own age. Mr. Miller makes dolls out of pine cones; the Camp Pinecrest kids would love to help find him cones to use, but lately there is a shortage of the normally abundant resource. What could be the cause?

Honey Bunch and Norman soon focus on a more serious mystery: Mr. Elder, the grouchy farmer whose property abuts Camp Pinecrest, is consulting a lawyer with the intention of making a claim on the camp's pond. Mr. Elder believes he owns this land, and if he can prove it, the camp will be denied access. This would be a real blow to the camp's activities, but Mr. Miller believes evidence exists to prove Camp Pinecrest owns the pond. Can Honey Bunch and Norman find it before the summer fun is ruined?

The stakes are lower than a typical Happy Hollisters book, but Honey Bunch and Norman Solve the Pine Cone Mystery is wholesome family entertainment, a credit to children's literature in any era. It evokes the excitement of summer camp, friendship, and exploration of the outdoors, reinforcing the idea that however young you may be, you can use your brain and love of adventure/discovery to do good in the world around you. I happily recommend this series.