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The Happy Hollisters #2
Los Hollister van al río
A big fish contest at The Trading Post, the Hollisters’ sporting goods store, has everybody in Shoreham excited. After Pete catches a large fish with a tag on its tail, another adventure begins for the eager young detectives. When the children’s friend, Bobby Reed, disappears in a leaky old boat, the whole family helps in the search.
Uncle Russ lends them his boat, and they set off on a trip down the Muskong River. After helping some hikers on shore, Pete, Pam and Mr. Hollister get lost in the fog on their way back to the boat.
A series of surprise discoveries lead the Hollisters on a hunt for Bobby on shore, and other adventures provide good times along the way. But there are false clues and disappointments before the Hollisters find Bobby, solve the mystery of the tagged fish, and bring happiness to an old man, Bobby and his mother.
First published in 1953, these charming mystery-adventure stories, faithfully reproduced, are now available in paperback 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. This is a perfect gift for the young reader in your life. 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. Over seventy 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.
Uncle Russ lends them his boat, and they set off on a trip down the Muskong River. After helping some hikers on shore, Pete, Pam and Mr. Hollister get lost in the fog on their way back to the boat.
A series of surprise discoveries lead the Hollisters on a hunt for Bobby on shore, and other adventures provide good times along the way. But there are false clues and disappointments before the Hollisters find Bobby, solve the mystery of the tagged fish, and bring happiness to an old man, Bobby and his mother.
First published in 1953, these charming mystery-adventure stories, faithfully reproduced, are now available in paperback 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. This is a perfect gift for the young reader in your life. 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. Over seventy 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.
207 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1953
171 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Jerry West
92 books51 followersThe 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
July 7, 2020
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.
May 28, 2012
OK, I'm calling this one four stars instead of five simply because I think it stretched credibility too far. Or at least I think it did. When you see such blatant abuse of a little boy (and I don't care what year this was written) I really should think the Hollister parents would have more of a reaction. Since when is it ever ok to grab a kid and drag him into a vehicle roughly, all the while pulling your best Fagin imitation by saying "You WILL WORK."
Sheesh.
Of course I wasn't around in the early 60s. Maybe life really was different.
Other than that, I have to say these kids are absolutely brilliant at marketing their dad's store. The fishing contest was inspired. Seriously, can I steal them for a bit and get some more customers into my own little bookstore? I can't wait to see what they come up with.
In all seriousness, there were some really excellent moments in this book. I loved the river trip and wanted more detail of sailing downriver looking for this kid. I like how the parents don't quail at letting their kids try things that are hard or even a little dangerous (too many I know wouldn't dream of walking across a fallen tree to shore like that, much less followed that route themselves.)
Overall, this is a good book. I'm very content to keep reading the series. And I would be happy to recommend this book to anyone who loves kids mystery books. These are SO much better than Nancy Drew. Why aren't they still in print????
Sheesh.
Of course I wasn't around in the early 60s. Maybe life really was different.
Other than that, I have to say these kids are absolutely brilliant at marketing their dad's store. The fishing contest was inspired. Seriously, can I steal them for a bit and get some more customers into my own little bookstore? I can't wait to see what they come up with.
In all seriousness, there were some really excellent moments in this book. I loved the river trip and wanted more detail of sailing downriver looking for this kid. I like how the parents don't quail at letting their kids try things that are hard or even a little dangerous (too many I know wouldn't dream of walking across a fallen tree to shore like that, much less followed that route themselves.)
Overall, this is a good book. I'm very content to keep reading the series. And I would be happy to recommend this book to anyone who loves kids mystery books. These are SO much better than Nancy Drew. Why aren't they still in print????
Read
May 15, 2021Now when days are bright I noticed this was really cozy summery read. I loved the outdoor adventure in this book.
These books are from the time when men worked and women did all household chores.
This was entertaining, but I would have loved to have more mystery.
These books are from the time when men worked and women did all household chores.
This was entertaining, but I would have loved to have more mystery.
June 14, 2020
A fun adventure, looking for two missing persons along a river. The kids enjoyed it.
April 25, 2021
This was fine--sweet, well-meaning, with characters who have good intentions and make an effort.
That said, I'm a 55 year old man (as of today), so I'm not the target market, and the Hollisters are certainly happy, but not exactly thrilling. I also think the adults in the story should have made more of an effort to call Social Services (or whatever its equivalent was back then), rather than shrug "oh well, abused child, too bad," etc.
There were some naturalistic details about the environment and plot that worked well, but it's such a different point in time the characters might as well be Martians for all they resemble people today. Were we such wet blankets in the 1950s? I feel Jane Austen's characters are completely alive, for all that they existeed (in so far as a character can be said to exist) 200 years ago. But the Hollisters and their ilk don't quite ring true anymore.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
That said, I'm a 55 year old man (as of today), so I'm not the target market, and the Hollisters are certainly happy, but not exactly thrilling. I also think the adults in the story should have made more of an effort to call Social Services (or whatever its equivalent was back then), rather than shrug "oh well, abused child, too bad," etc.
There were some naturalistic details about the environment and plot that worked well, but it's such a different point in time the characters might as well be Martians for all they resemble people today. Were we such wet blankets in the 1950s? I feel Jane Austen's characters are completely alive, for all that they existeed (in so far as a character can be said to exist) 200 years ago. But the Hollisters and their ilk don't quite ring true anymore.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
January 14, 2022
I think I remember reading one or two of these when I was younger, but if so, I've pretty much forgotten them. (: This made for a nice kids' adventure, and I appreciated the fact that the parents were a part of everything that was going on rather than being kept in the dark about things.
Content--a boy runs away from a cruel man; some unkind pranks by a bully; children engage in a fistfight; a few uses of "jeepers," etc.
Content--a boy runs away from a cruel man; some unkind pranks by a bully; children engage in a fistfight; a few uses of "jeepers," etc.
September 4, 2024
I read this with the littlest, and she says to give this one “six stars”, because she rated the first one five and this one is “way better.”
She loved the adventure, and the “cliff hangers” at the end of each chapter made her never want to stop reading it.
This innocent, merry story is a little dated (1950s) and full of melodrama, which made me giggle—but any book that my kids love reading is a winner.
She loved the adventure, and the “cliff hangers” at the end of each chapter made her never want to stop reading it.
This innocent, merry story is a little dated (1950s) and full of melodrama, which made me giggle—but any book that my kids love reading is a winner.
Read
September 23, 2019Another trip down memory lane. Such a fun sweet story
February 12, 2021
A missing boy leads to adventure
The second Happy Hollisters adventure is as good as the first. This time the family searches along the Muskong River for a boy who's disappeared while searching for the biggest fish in the river in order to win a contest. Good fun and adventure.
The second Happy Hollisters adventure is as good as the first. This time the family searches along the Muskong River for a boy who's disappeared while searching for the biggest fish in the river in order to win a contest. Good fun and adventure.
February 18, 2017
The Hollisters are written for a younger audience than the Famous Five books by Enid Blyton. Unlike the Famous Five, the Hollisters did not go on holidays alone without adults, and they did not usually five themselves in such extreme dangers. They still managed to live adventures and solve mysteries, though.
The books were written in the 50s and 60s, and it depicts a clean-cut, wholesome family, where children get along with their siblings and respect their parents. The plot is simple, as befits the target audience, and the chapters usually end in a cliffhanger to keep readers interested. The target audience is a bit too young for the books to appeal to adult readers, but then again they do not need to. Children between 5 and 11 are the target audience, and the books will work well for them.
In this book, the Hollisters go on a river trip on a big motor boat with their parents, looking for a friend of them who has disappeared, possibly run away. The last time he was seen was rowing down the river on a very old boat. The children also find several fishes with tags on their tails saying "Old Moe", and try to solve that mystery.
The books were written in the 50s and 60s, and it depicts a clean-cut, wholesome family, where children get along with their siblings and respect their parents. The plot is simple, as befits the target audience, and the chapters usually end in a cliffhanger to keep readers interested. The target audience is a bit too young for the books to appeal to adult readers, but then again they do not need to. Children between 5 and 11 are the target audience, and the books will work well for them.
In this book, the Hollisters go on a river trip on a big motor boat with their parents, looking for a friend of them who has disappeared, possibly run away. The last time he was seen was rowing down the river on a very old boat. The children also find several fishes with tags on their tails saying "Old Moe", and try to solve that mystery.
March 24, 2016
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.
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.
December 10, 2012
This title, and all in the series are not just cute, "remember when" stories. They have children learning right from wrong and to accept responsibility for their actions not to mention learning from mistakes. You will even find them doing things they are responsible for before continuing their sleuthing (prioritizing). The stories end in the late '60's yet, they are timeless. The titles are "safe" to give children / grandchildren unlike some so called modern children's titles out there that have crass content, at best, but are not always previewed by parents / grandparents. The Happy Hollister's stories contain good character examples with children learning to work for things and not just expect things without personal and honest effort. They also exhibit self sacrifice for the benefit of others. I am glad that the titles are being reprinted without editing to include Kindle versions by the late author's family.
December 18, 2015
Loved it when I read it in 1967.
Read
December 31, 2015Very good read for little children.
January 17, 2016
A fish contest at the trading post has the whole town fishing. A boy goes missing and the Hollister family try and help find him. Good story for older kids.
September 13, 2016
This book, while obviously dated, was fun to read to the girls. It was fairly predictable, but they enjoyed it and I'll probably read more from this series to them.
May 10, 2025
Lizzie: There is a weird word in it: lopadupalus.
December 27, 2019
The Happy Hollisters on a River Trip: (Volume 2) — Jerry West (18 titled chapters) December 13-14, 2019
I have read other books by this author but it wasn’t until this one that I discovered these were written in 1950’s by the same group that brought Nancy Drew to life. Although, unlike Nancy Drew, it was written by one man under the alternate name of Jerry West. This is OK. It doesn’t change my option of this set of stories. They are good, wholesome fun (whatever that means,) except the girls are given a little more authority. Still, it is a story where the parents play a background role to their super smart kids, and only come in to lay a few boundaries get them out a little bit of trouble (or keep them from getting in trouble.)
This story is about another mystery where the kids’ friend go missing and they try to find him. A sub-plot surrounds a mysterious man named Old Moe. Of course, there is a “just happened to happen” situation with fun uncle’s boat and an unmarried single outdoorsy man that the kids respect.
As I have started in past reviews, this is a good book for parents that want their kids to have some light reading that doesn’t eschew contemporary themes. I still like them, but this may be my last story I read from this series.
Three stars.
I have read other books by this author but it wasn’t until this one that I discovered these were written in 1950’s by the same group that brought Nancy Drew to life. Although, unlike Nancy Drew, it was written by one man under the alternate name of Jerry West. This is OK. It doesn’t change my option of this set of stories. They are good, wholesome fun (whatever that means,) except the girls are given a little more authority. Still, it is a story where the parents play a background role to their super smart kids, and only come in to lay a few boundaries get them out a little bit of trouble (or keep them from getting in trouble.)
This story is about another mystery where the kids’ friend go missing and they try to find him. A sub-plot surrounds a mysterious man named Old Moe. Of course, there is a “just happened to happen” situation with fun uncle’s boat and an unmarried single outdoorsy man that the kids respect.
As I have started in past reviews, this is a good book for parents that want their kids to have some light reading that doesn’t eschew contemporary themes. I still like them, but this may be my last story I read from this series.
Three stars.
March 14, 2021
The Happy Hollisters on a River Trip by Jerry West
Another episode of the family as the hardware store their dad runs has a contest. the biggest fish caught will win $25 to spend at the store.
The kids also run into Bobby, a local boy but he's staying with a farmer who puts him to work while his mother is out west. She is searching for her grandfather.
The children also catch some fish with a tag on the tail that says ole moe with a number. They ask many around town for a clue as to who ole moe is and they get a lot of clues.
Love the printing procedures at the newspaper, so precise as I was in the publishing business at one time.
The kids are alarmed when they learn Bobby has left the area and they start searching and ask their Uncle Russ for help.
He is able to help them as they all search for the missing boy and also try to find out about ole moe.
What a great story, it even has the bully of the town Joey Brille at his tricks again. Wouldn't be a story without him.
Love all the kids and all they put into finding out all the answers.
Can't wait to read another book.
Another episode of the family as the hardware store their dad runs has a contest. the biggest fish caught will win $25 to spend at the store.
The kids also run into Bobby, a local boy but he's staying with a farmer who puts him to work while his mother is out west. She is searching for her grandfather.
The children also catch some fish with a tag on the tail that says ole moe with a number. They ask many around town for a clue as to who ole moe is and they get a lot of clues.
Love the printing procedures at the newspaper, so precise as I was in the publishing business at one time.
The kids are alarmed when they learn Bobby has left the area and they start searching and ask their Uncle Russ for help.
He is able to help them as they all search for the missing boy and also try to find out about ole moe.
What a great story, it even has the bully of the town Joey Brille at his tricks again. Wouldn't be a story without him.
Love all the kids and all they put into finding out all the answers.
Can't wait to read another book.
August 15, 2017
I read all of the Happy Hollister books I could when I was a child, so when I came across this recently, I thought I would see whether the story would still hold my interest, and also whether or not it was at all dated. To answer the second question first, yes, it is perhaps slightly dated — no one seems to object to young children working, or even being rather harshly treated at times. The Hollister family is definitely happy, as they try to solve two mysteries — where has young Bobby Reed disappeared to? and who is tagging fish with metal bands labeled "Old Moe"? Since the answers seem to lie down the river, the family borrows Uncle Russ's new boat and takes a trip. Along the way they have several adventures before finding the answers they are looking for. Quite enjoyable.
January 6, 2021
A big fish contest at The Trading Post-great plot. Pete catches a large fish with a tag on its tail, another adventure begins. When the children’s friend, Bobby Reed, disappears in a leaky old boat, the whole family helps in the search. Uncle Russ lends them his boat, and they set off on a trip down the Muskong River. After helping some hikers onshore, Pete, Pam, and Mr. Hollister get lost in the fog on their way back to the boat. Action from the start, not ending until the end. I love this family. Always curious. Always exciting, and always happy.
June 29, 2018
My children love these little books. They thoroughly enjoy each and every story, as if they are all unique and individual without any cause for similarity among them. Even though sometimes, they might seem tedious and repetitive to me as a parent, I do enjoy being able to read short-stories to my children that are clean and respective.
August 6, 2018
Wonderful Soul cleanse for us older readers-Sometimes we need to take a trip back to a simpler view not because those times are more true to life than the one we know i but because it good for us experience As The Little Prince Tell Us that the only way we can experience what we are missing is to see what the Heart Sees
July 27, 2019
Fun family read
This story was a delight for my 41/2 year old daughter and 6 1/2 year old son. It made for fun family bedtime story time and the parents enjoyed the storyline, even if it was a bit juvenile. Any story that keeps our kids attention and provides good examples for our kids character development is good for us :)
This story was a delight for my 41/2 year old daughter and 6 1/2 year old son. It made for fun family bedtime story time and the parents enjoyed the storyline, even if it was a bit juvenile. Any story that keeps our kids attention and provides good examples for our kids character development is good for us :)
March 5, 2020
Fun family read aloud
My 8 year old son loves this series. He reads them himself and sometimes we take turns reading to each other. I love that the parents are involved in the story, but not in an intrusive way. They're very helpful and all of the adults encourage the children. I also love that the Hollister family is known for being happy.
My 8 year old son loves this series. He reads them himself and sometimes we take turns reading to each other. I love that the parents are involved in the story, but not in an intrusive way. They're very helpful and all of the adults encourage the children. I also love that the Hollister family is known for being happy.
June 14, 2022
Feel like a curmudgeon for giving this rendition of the Hollister adventures only 3 stars but the plot isn't exactly riveting. None of them are, honestly, but this one drags a little. 5 year old agreed -- 2 chapters left and she claimed boredom and wanted to read something else but we plowed on through to the end!
September 14, 2018
What a refreshing treat to read this nostalgic look at American life! My first Hollisters book, this reminds me of the Nancy Drew books I loved as a child. Family is intact, children are cheerful (mostly), happy ending, problems are overcome with grit and determination.
November 30, 2021
Dated, but my seven year old girls really enjoy this series so far. And it's a good introduction to longer books. The only problem is that the end of every chapter is a cliff hanger, and one daughter hates ending the reading at these points.
January 17, 2024
These were designed to be a series like The Hardy Boys, but are clearly targeting a much younger audience in a leave-it-to-beaver era. Our 8 and 9 year olds enjoyed the different situations the kids found themselves in, but I found it pretty boring as a read aloud.
February 2, 2019
Love it
It was a great read.
Fun and exciting.
I hope to read more like it. I couldn't put it dow.
It was a great read.
Fun and exciting.
I hope to read more like it. I couldn't put it dow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews