Fourteen Months Later

Since my last blog entry (dated 8 June 2009!), the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew properties have continued to publish steadily. In the last fourteen months, six new titles have been added to The Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers (X-plosion #29, The X-Factor #30, Killer Mission #31, Private Killer #32, Killer Connections #33, and The Children of the Lost #34) and to Nancy Drew: Girl Detective: Model Menace #37, Model Suspect #38, Green-Eyed Monster #39, Green with Envy #40, Seeing Green #41, and Secret Sabotage #42). While both series have been publishing bi-monthly since they began in 2005 and 2004, respectively, it looks like the publication schedule is slowing down, which is troublesome if only because both series currently publish trilogies: in the Undercover Brothers series, the first Lost Mystery Trilogy book appeared in May, but the second volume, Lost Brother, isn’t due out until mid-October, and the third, Forever Lost, will be published in early January 2011; in the Girl Detective series, the second book in the Sabotage Mystery trilogy, Serial Sabotage, is also scheduled for publication in mid-October, but the third, Sabotage Surrender, won’t be on sale until February 2011. This is quite a while for readers to wait for the next installment, but perhaps it’s a sign of change ahead. Aladdin Paperbacks also published a fourth volume in the joint Super Mystery series, Gold Medal Murder, this month.

In the series for six- to eight-year-olds, the publication trend seems fairly similar: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew saw six new books since June 2009 as well: Double Take #21, Unicorn Uproar #22, Babysitting Bandit #23, Beauty Parlor Princess #24, Princess Mix-up Mystery #25, and Camp Creepy #26. The next volume in that series, Cat Burglar Caper #27, will appear in September, followed by Time Thief #28, Designed for Disaster #29, and Dance Off #30, all scheduled for publication in 2011. Earlier this year, Aladdin Paperbacks launched a new series, The Hardy Boys Secret Files, with two titles – Trouble at the Arcade #1 and The Missing Mitt #2 – released in April. The next three volumes – Mystery Map #3, Hopping Mad #4, A Monster of a Mystery #5 – are scheduled for publication in August 2010, September 2010, and April 2011, respectively.

Although Applewood Books ceased their publication of facsimile editions of the original Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries in 2006, they are issuing a boxed set of the first six Hardy Boys Mystery Stories in September 2010! Although it is similar in format to the boxed set they released for Nancy Drew’s 75th anniversary in 2005, there doesn’t seem to be a special occasion prompting this new set.

Over on the graphic novel front, Papercutz is about to issue their last volume of both The Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers (Deadly Strategy #20) and Nancy Drew: Girl Detective (High School Mystery 2: The Lost Verse #21) this August. Immediately after that, they will reboot both series in September 2010: The Hardy Boys: The New Case Files and Nancy Drew: The New Case Files.

So, in a nutshell, lots of changes in the last fourteen months, and perhaps a bit of slowing down in the publication schedule. In all likelihood, there will be more changes ahead of us in the months to come, so stay tuned.

First Two Graphic Novels for 2010

The first two titles in the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew graphic novel series published by Papercutz in 2010 are now available to pre-order: Nancy Drew: Girl Detective #20: High School Musical Mystery, scheduled for publication in January; and The Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers #20: Deadly Strategy, scheduled for publication in March.

NDGD 36: Model Crime (2009)

Model Mystery Trilogy, Book One

By Carolyn Keene

First Aladdin Paperbacks edition June 2009

ISBN: 978-1-4169-7840-4

Synopsis

Sydney, Bess and George’s cousin and my good friend, is finally getting married to her fiancé, Vic! We’re so happy for her, and we’re sure it’s going to be a beautiful wedding—after all, she’s a famous model and he’s a reality TV stud. Plus, we’re all bridesmaids! Imagine seeing George in a dress….

But that’s where the fun and games stop. As Sydney prepares for her wedding, mysterious things start happening to her and Vic. Vic is almost poisoned, and Sydney’s bridal shower is sabotaged—and there are too many suspects to count. But why would anyone want to ruin Sydney’s special day?

These can’t be coincidences. I’m sure there is something sinister afoot, and I’m determined to find it out and help my friend.

Link: Nancy Drew: Girl Detective (2004-)

HBUB 28: Galaxy X (2009)

Galaxy X Trilogy, Book One

By Franklin W. Dixon

Designed by Sammy Yuen Jr.

First Aladdin Paperbacks edition May 2009

ISBN: 978-1-4169-7801-5

Synopsis

ATAC briefing for agents Frank and Joe Hardy:

MISSION: To find out who is trying to sabotage the opening of the brand-new X Games theme park, Galaxy X.

LOCATION: Galaxy X, a new theme park in sunny California.

POTENTIAL VICTIMS: Music producer and Galaxy X owner Tyrone McKenzie and his family, as well as anyone who shows up to the GX premiere week.

SUSPECTS: There are protestors outside the gates, but are there people on the inside who have a motive to sabotage the opening?

This mission requires your immediate attention. This message will be erased in five seconds.

Link: The Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers (2005-)

NDCC 20: Treasure Trouble (2009)

By Carolyn Keene

Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan

Designed by Lisa Vega

First Aladdin paperbacks edition May 2009

ISBN: 978-1-4169-7809-1

Synopsis

Nancy, George, and Bess are headed to beautiful Barnacle Beach for a pirate-themed birthday party. They’ve planned every detail, from nautical party games to a real chest of buried treasure. This is going to be the most fun party ever!

Until none of the guests show up. Perhaps they’ve been scared off by mythical beach monster Lonny the Lake Lizard. But that’s just silly—monsters aren’t real, right?

And now the treasure is gone! This looks like another case for the Clue Crew—time to find the missing treasure, and the missing friends, too!

Link: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew (2006-)

Three New Clue Crew Titles for 2010

Announcing three more titles in the Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew series scheduled for 2010: Princess Mix-up Mystery #25, Cat Burglar Caper #26, and Camp Creepy #27.

Five New Graphic Novels for 2009

The latest books in the Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers graphic novels series and the Nancy Drew: Girl Detective graphic novels series—Shhhhhh! and Night of the Living Chatchke, respectively—were released this month. Five more titles will be added to these series later in 2009. These are, in the former series, Word Up! #17, D.A.N.G.E.R. Spells the Hangman! #18, and Chaos at 30,000 Feet! #19; and in the latter series, City Under the Basement #18 and Cliff Hanger #19. A fourth boxed set for each series, containing volumes nine to twelve, will be released in September 2009.

Updates: Scholarship and Reviews

I have finally updated the scholarships page, first by moving all reviews of academic titles to a new reviews page, and second by adding materials that I had missed. This includes new (and not-so-new) work by Rob K. Baum, Michael Bronski, Linda K. Christian-Smith, Alisa Clapp-Itnyre, Michael G. Cornelius, Leona W. Fisher, Stephanie Foote, Marla Harris, Angela Hill, Deidre Johnson, Margaret Kleszynski, Mary Linehan, Anne H. Lundin, Mary Jeanette Moran, Ilana Nash, Meghan O’Rourke, Linda M. Pavonetti, Alan Pickrell, Isabella Roblin, and Ramsay Scott. Have I missed anything? Please let me know (even if the work in question is your own), since the databases I consult don’t include all materials in popular sources.

Coming Up Next: More Trilogies

The latest titles in the Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers series and the Nancy Drew: Girl Detective series have been released: Double Deception #27, the last book in the Double Danger trilogy (March 2009), and Identity Revealed #35, the last book in the Identity Mystery trilogy. What’s next for these two series? More trilogies!

The Hardy Boys are gearing up for the Galaxy X trilogy, which will include Galaxy X #28, X-plosion #29, and The X-Factor #30. After that, they are scheduled for the Killer Mystery Trilogy, which will take them into 2010: so far the first two titles, Killer Mission #31 and Private Killer #32, have been announced.

Meanwhile, Nancy Drew has two new trilogies ahead of her: the Model Mystery trilogy, including Model Crime #36, Model Menace #37, and Model Suspect #38, as well as the Eco Mystery trilogy, including Green-Eyed Monster #39, Green with Envy #40, and Seeing Green #41. The two series will cross over for Club Dread, currently scheduled for May 2009.

The Mystery of the Two #24s

Today I picked up two of the latest Undercover Brothers volumes: Deprivation House (#22, May 2008) and Haunted—which was initially advertised as Super Mystery #3 but was released as #24, “Special Ghost Stories Edition,” even though what was advertised as #24 is Murder House, the third book in the Murder House Trilogy. What am I missing? The new books don’t have the series number on the cover or the spine, so I can’t tell by looking at books that haven’t been released yet, but Barnes & Noble actually lists both books as #24. Is this a glitch in the system or did Simon & Schuster change their minds at the last minute to coincide with the new Nancy Drew: Girl Detective Ghost Stories?