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Original Bobbsey Twins #4
The Bobbsey Twins' Mystery at School
Short excerpt: There were two pairs of twins Bert and Nan nearly nine years of age and Flossie and Freddie almost five. And whereas the two older children were rather tall and slim with dark brown hair and eyes the littler twins were short and fat and had light hair and blue eyes.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1913
About the author
Laura Lee Hope
603 books79 followersLaura Lee Hope is a pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate for the Bobbsey Twins and several other series of children's novels. Actual writers taking up the pen of Laura Lee Hope include Edward Stratemeyer, Howard and Lilian Garis, Elizabeth Ward, Harriet (Stratemeyer) Adams, Andrew E. Svenson, June M. Dunn, Grace Grote and Nancy Axelrad.
Laura Lee Hope was first used in 1904 for the debut of the Bobbsey Twins, the principal characters of what was, for many years, the Stratemeyer Syndicate's longest-running series of children's novels. Other series written under this pseudonym include: The Outdoor Girls (23 vols. 1913-1933), The Moving Picture Girls (7 vols. 1914-1916), Bunny Brown (20 vols. 1916-1931), Six Little Bunkers (14 vols. 1918-1930), Make Believe Stories (12 vols. c. 1920-1923), and Blythe Girls (12 vols. 1925-1932).
The first of the 72 books of the Bobbsey Twins series was published in 1904, the last in 1979. The books related the adventures of the children of the middle-class Bobbsey family, which included two sets of mixed-gender fraternal twins: Bert and Nan, who were 12 years old, and Flossie and Freddie, who were six.
Edward Stratemeyer himself is believed to have written the first volume in its original form in 1904. When the original series was brought to its conclusion in 1979, it had reached a total of 72 volumes. At least two abortive attempts to restart the series were launched after this, but in neither effort was the popularity of the original series achieved.
Speculation that Stratemeyer also wrote the second and third volumes of the series is believed to be incorrect; these books are now attributed to Lilian Garis, wife of Howard Garis, who is credited with volumes 4–28 and 41. Elizabeth Ward is credited with volumes 29–35, while Harriet Stratemeyer Adams is credited with 36–38, 39 (with Camilla McClave), 40, 42, 43 (with Andrew Svenson), and 44–48. Volumes 49–52 are attributed to Andrew Svenson, while 53–59, and the 1960s rewrites of 1–4, 7, 11–13, and 17, are attributed to June Dunn. Grace Grote is regarded as the real author of 60–67 and the rewrites of 14 and 18–20, and Nancy Axelrad is credited with 68–72. Of the 1960s rewrites not already mentioned, volumes 5 and 16 are credited to Mary Donahoe, 6 and 25 to Patricia Doll, 8–10 and 15 to Bonnibel Weston, and 24 to Margery Howard.
--from Wikipedia
Laura Lee Hope was first used in 1904 for the debut of the Bobbsey Twins, the principal characters of what was, for many years, the Stratemeyer Syndicate's longest-running series of children's novels. Other series written under this pseudonym include: The Outdoor Girls (23 vols. 1913-1933), The Moving Picture Girls (7 vols. 1914-1916), Bunny Brown (20 vols. 1916-1931), Six Little Bunkers (14 vols. 1918-1930), Make Believe Stories (12 vols. c. 1920-1923), and Blythe Girls (12 vols. 1925-1932).
The first of the 72 books of the Bobbsey Twins series was published in 1904, the last in 1979. The books related the adventures of the children of the middle-class Bobbsey family, which included two sets of mixed-gender fraternal twins: Bert and Nan, who were 12 years old, and Flossie and Freddie, who were six.
Edward Stratemeyer himself is believed to have written the first volume in its original form in 1904. When the original series was brought to its conclusion in 1979, it had reached a total of 72 volumes. At least two abortive attempts to restart the series were launched after this, but in neither effort was the popularity of the original series achieved.
Speculation that Stratemeyer also wrote the second and third volumes of the series is believed to be incorrect; these books are now attributed to Lilian Garis, wife of Howard Garis, who is credited with volumes 4–28 and 41. Elizabeth Ward is credited with volumes 29–35, while Harriet Stratemeyer Adams is credited with 36–38, 39 (with Camilla McClave), 40, 42, 43 (with Andrew Svenson), and 44–48. Volumes 49–52 are attributed to Andrew Svenson, while 53–59, and the 1960s rewrites of 1–4, 7, 11–13, and 17, are attributed to June Dunn. Grace Grote is regarded as the real author of 60–67 and the rewrites of 14 and 18–20, and Nancy Axelrad is credited with 68–72. Of the 1960s rewrites not already mentioned, volumes 5 and 16 are credited to Mary Donahoe, 6 and 25 to Patricia Doll, 8–10 and 15 to Bonnibel Weston, and 24 to Margery Howard.
--from Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 17, 2020
The action in 'The Bobbsey Twins at School' revolves not only around time at school but also around activities that take place outside schooldays when the Bobbsey children are relaxing and enjoying themselves - or otherwise - with friends and family.
Bert and Nan and younger brother and sister Freddie and Flossie and their parents are travelling home on the train, discussing the next school term, when a circus train in front of them hits trouble. The result is animals from the circus are wandering around the train tracks. Fortunately nobody is hurt but the animals need rounding up so the Bobbseys keep out of the way until that is sorted out.
However, the circus train blocks the track so they decide to walk the short distance to their home but they discover that their black cat Snoop is missing along with a silver cup that was jolted out of their luggage in the sudden stop. However, they do find that they have a new companion in a white shaggy dog who will not leave them. They try to discover its owner without success so in the end it goes home with them and it is then that they discover that the dog can perform tricks so they suspect that it belongs to someone at the circus. But as nobody claims the dog, they keep it and decide to call it Snap.
And Snap features throughout the story from then on, enjoying, and joining in, the high jinks that the Bobbsey twins get up to and that includes ice skating, sledging, enjoying a Halloween party and dramatically fighting a fire at the family boathouse.
And at school the twins battle with the school bully, one Danny Rugg. He is determined to cause the twins trouble and they are constantly confronting him. They even indulge in an exciting sledge race with him that has frightening consequences.
Eventually, after plenty of fun and plenty of school rivalry, everything turns out fine; Snoop is discovered, the silver cup turns up, Snap is allowed to stay with the Bobbseys and life at Lakeport returns to normal once more ... ready for more adventures.
Bert and Nan and younger brother and sister Freddie and Flossie and their parents are travelling home on the train, discussing the next school term, when a circus train in front of them hits trouble. The result is animals from the circus are wandering around the train tracks. Fortunately nobody is hurt but the animals need rounding up so the Bobbseys keep out of the way until that is sorted out.
However, the circus train blocks the track so they decide to walk the short distance to their home but they discover that their black cat Snoop is missing along with a silver cup that was jolted out of their luggage in the sudden stop. However, they do find that they have a new companion in a white shaggy dog who will not leave them. They try to discover its owner without success so in the end it goes home with them and it is then that they discover that the dog can perform tricks so they suspect that it belongs to someone at the circus. But as nobody claims the dog, they keep it and decide to call it Snap.
And Snap features throughout the story from then on, enjoying, and joining in, the high jinks that the Bobbsey twins get up to and that includes ice skating, sledging, enjoying a Halloween party and dramatically fighting a fire at the family boathouse.
And at school the twins battle with the school bully, one Danny Rugg. He is determined to cause the twins trouble and they are constantly confronting him. They even indulge in an exciting sledge race with him that has frightening consequences.
Eventually, after plenty of fun and plenty of school rivalry, everything turns out fine; Snoop is discovered, the silver cup turns up, Snap is allowed to stay with the Bobbseys and life at Lakeport returns to normal once more ... ready for more adventures.
July 19, 2020
Not one of the better ones in the first half of the series (the first half being the better half of the series). The adults seem especially dense in this one.
P.S. I see different editions have the twins at different ages. In the "purple" editions which I read Nan and Bert are 12 and Freddie and Flossie are 6. Also, check out the cover on the "purple" edition. I'd forgotten that Nan was left-handed.
P.S. I see different editions have the twins at different ages. In the "purple" editions which I read Nan and Bert are 12 and Freddie and Flossie are 6. Also, check out the cover on the "purple" edition. I'd forgotten that Nan was left-handed.
August 15, 2021
There is a review here on Goodreads that says "Dinah's entire character hasn't aged well and is racist". Hi, I'm a 22 year old white lady and I agree entirely with Dinah on the subject of freshly mopped floors. I am very saddened to find out that caring about your work and having the authority to see others care about it too is racist and out of touch, but...
June 18, 2020
I see that there is an alternate title for this work, "The Bobbsey Twins Mystery at School" and wonder if it underwent a rewrite at some point after the original publication in 1913. One hopes so; as it stands this instalment isn't up to much. It's basically a filler, with all the interesting things glossed over and too much repetition of tropes from other books. The parts that could have been interesting, such as Thanksgiving when they invited several friends to stay, are summarised with "well you know all about Thanksgiving, having celebrated it yourself, so I won't go into that" or words to that effect.
WHY do all these stories start with a train journey, during which that tiresome cat gets out of its box? And tiresome Freddie gets "fretful" about it. Once again, the girl-twins have to take a back seat to Bert and Freddie, who are the only ones who do anything again. Offered a chance to go sledding, Nan chooses to help Mum do the dusting and "really doesn't want to go." I'll just bet. So much for the twins doing everything together! Once again, Bert deals with the dangers of smoking, though he says he'll probably start after he's 21. Because it's what men do. I guess. Far too much page-time is given to smoking, adult approval or disapproval, etc until it reads more like a pamphlet from the American Heart Association. The tiresome "bad boy" Danny Rugg gets more attention than he's worth as well. His father ignores his activities throughout the book only to try to come the "stern disciplinarian" at the end after his kid has caused havoc. There's only one mild suggestion in passing that Danny's problem is really a total lack of parental guidance.
The kids are found by a large and friendly dog who can do tricks, but I did wonder how said dog could walk on his hind legs and "carry a stick like a gun" since dogs have no hands and front paws aren't up to much when you're off balance like that, built as you are to go on four feet.
One thing surprised me. Back in those days school started in September (sometimes mid-September) but the text speaks of all the kids being "promoted" to different classes after the Thanksgiving exams--that's not even a school quarter. And yet it's the same school the older kids were attending before the summer. The school system must have been very different back then. Or perhaps it's just another example of the lack of attention given the book by its writer.
Worst Bobbsey book so far.
WHY do all these stories start with a train journey, during which that tiresome cat gets out of its box? And tiresome Freddie gets "fretful" about it. Once again, the girl-twins have to take a back seat to Bert and Freddie, who are the only ones who do anything again. Offered a chance to go sledding, Nan chooses to help Mum do the dusting and "really doesn't want to go." I'll just bet. So much for the twins doing everything together! Once again, Bert deals with the dangers of smoking, though he says he'll probably start after he's 21. Because it's what men do. I guess. Far too much page-time is given to smoking, adult approval or disapproval, etc until it reads more like a pamphlet from the American Heart Association. The tiresome "bad boy" Danny Rugg gets more attention than he's worth as well. His father ignores his activities throughout the book only to try to come the "stern disciplinarian" at the end after his kid has caused havoc. There's only one mild suggestion in passing that Danny's problem is really a total lack of parental guidance.
The kids are found by a large and friendly dog who can do tricks, but I did wonder how said dog could walk on his hind legs and "carry a stick like a gun" since dogs have no hands and front paws aren't up to much when you're off balance like that, built as you are to go on four feet.
One thing surprised me. Back in those days school started in September (sometimes mid-September) but the text speaks of all the kids being "promoted" to different classes after the Thanksgiving exams--that's not even a school quarter. And yet it's the same school the older kids were attending before the summer. The school system must have been very different back then. Or perhaps it's just another example of the lack of attention given the book by its writer.
Worst Bobbsey book so far.
September 13, 2013
Another good Bobbsey Twins book. I am sooo enjoying these books from my childhood.
The Bobbsey's train has a problem on the way home from the seashore and almost runs into another train that has come off the tracks. A circus train. They loose a silver cup and their cat Snoop and while walking to catch a trolley to get home they find a dog. Will they get to keep the dog? Will they get the cup and cat back? You'll have to read and find out.
I hope Danny Rugg will come out ok in the end. He is a bully and has been making lots of trouble for the Bobbsey children. He stole the ice cream for a birthday party, with some of his friends. And, he was smoking cigarettes, and finally got caught by his father, though before that happened he burned down the Bobbsey's boathouse. At least he confessed and was punished. With more careful attention from his father, he could come out alright yet.
It is nice to see that the Bobbsey children are not perfect and can get in little arguments, like children do.
I was very nice of Flossie to ask to share their lunch with two children who didn't have any on a day the school went for an outing.
""Well, I'm awful hungry, Nan," said the little girl. "Besides, Sammie Jones and his sister Julia, haven't any lunch at all. I saw them, and they looked terrible hungry. Couldn't we give them some of ours; if we have so much at home?"
"Of course we could, and it is very kind of you to think of them," said Nan, as she patted her little sister on the head. "I'll look after Sammie and Julia when we get tot he grove."
So it is time for the next Bobbsey book... about their adventures at Snow Lodge. I can't wait to get started.
The Bobbsey's train has a problem on the way home from the seashore and almost runs into another train that has come off the tracks. A circus train. They loose a silver cup and their cat Snoop and while walking to catch a trolley to get home they find a dog. Will they get to keep the dog? Will they get the cup and cat back? You'll have to read and find out.
I hope Danny Rugg will come out ok in the end. He is a bully and has been making lots of trouble for the Bobbsey children. He stole the ice cream for a birthday party, with some of his friends. And, he was smoking cigarettes, and finally got caught by his father, though before that happened he burned down the Bobbsey's boathouse. At least he confessed and was punished. With more careful attention from his father, he could come out alright yet.
It is nice to see that the Bobbsey children are not perfect and can get in little arguments, like children do.
I was very nice of Flossie to ask to share their lunch with two children who didn't have any on a day the school went for an outing.
""Well, I'm awful hungry, Nan," said the little girl. "Besides, Sammie Jones and his sister Julia, haven't any lunch at all. I saw them, and they looked terrible hungry. Couldn't we give them some of ours; if we have so much at home?"
"Of course we could, and it is very kind of you to think of them," said Nan, as she patted her little sister on the head. "I'll look after Sammie and Julia when we get tot he grove."
So it is time for the next Bobbsey book... about their adventures at Snow Lodge. I can't wait to get started.
February 10, 2021
Our family loved this for a read-aloud. The boys were very excited to read the next Bobbsey book!
November 2, 2015
Part of a reading challenge, this is a book from my childhood. My grandfather used to be a teacher, then principal, then superintendent of schools, and had tons of 'supplies' in the barn on their property. One of my favorite childhood memories was visiting, and spending hours trolling through the stuff in the barn, playing school, reading, etc. There were a bunch of Bobbsey Twins books there, and I read them all. This is part of a treasured memory...
And wow, it should not be exposed to modern light! On the upside, the books are loving and kind, show a sweet family relationship, are packed with action and adventure, and evoke a time when kids had a lot more freedom than they can realistically have today. This is a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys for a younger set, and encouraged kids to read, and that's always great.
On the downside, they are also from a time of defined gender roles, stereotypes, and most painfully, racial divides. You can argue that they don't treat anyone badly, and they don't. They love Dinah (their housekeeper) and Sam (their handyman, her husband)....and let's just think about that for a minute.
I remember how I wished my family were a little kinder like the Bobbsey's when I read them as a child, and I could still get that feeling. But I was uncomfortable when I rediscovered this one, and could understand how my mom, caring alone all day for five kids and taking care of the house and stretching the dollars and green stamps to get food on the table, wasn't quite as carefree as Mary Bobbsey.
And wow, it should not be exposed to modern light! On the upside, the books are loving and kind, show a sweet family relationship, are packed with action and adventure, and evoke a time when kids had a lot more freedom than they can realistically have today. This is a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys for a younger set, and encouraged kids to read, and that's always great.
On the downside, they are also from a time of defined gender roles, stereotypes, and most painfully, racial divides. You can argue that they don't treat anyone badly, and they don't. They love Dinah (their housekeeper) and Sam (their handyman, her husband)....and let's just think about that for a minute.
I remember how I wished my family were a little kinder like the Bobbsey's when I read them as a child, and I could still get that feeling. But I was uncomfortable when I rediscovered this one, and could understand how my mom, caring alone all day for five kids and taking care of the house and stretching the dollars and green stamps to get food on the table, wasn't quite as carefree as Mary Bobbsey.
January 7, 2012
Another cute tale in the Bobbsey series, this one seeing them at the beginning of a school year.
The adventures begin when their train is delayed by another train's wreck -- a train that belongs go a circus. The Bobbseys' cat, Snoop, disappears in the hubbub ... and they find a dog, Snap, who does a great many tricks. Not too surprisingly, Snap belonged to the circus.
The "lesson" in this book was about the badness of smoking cigarettes ... as portrayed by the bully, Danny Rugg, and his pals constantly doing so and trying to get Bert Bobbsey to join them.
As always with these books, it pays to remember that they were written in the very early 20th Century. Some of the attitudes displayed are no longer considered appropriate, but the books are still a charming read.
The adventures begin when their train is delayed by another train's wreck -- a train that belongs go a circus. The Bobbseys' cat, Snoop, disappears in the hubbub ... and they find a dog, Snap, who does a great many tricks. Not too surprisingly, Snap belonged to the circus.
The "lesson" in this book was about the badness of smoking cigarettes ... as portrayed by the bully, Danny Rugg, and his pals constantly doing so and trying to get Bert Bobbsey to join them.
As always with these books, it pays to remember that they were written in the very early 20th Century. Some of the attitudes displayed are no longer considered appropriate, but the books are still a charming read.
December 9, 2013
I started to read this book to my granddaughter , who is 6. She loves stories that have adventure and people doing things from everyday life. But after the first few pages I came to realize that this story was not appropriate for her age as it had been for me at age 8, 57 years ago when I first met The Bobbsey Twins.
Reading this book is a case of culture shock. It was published in 1913 and it is so simplistic in its telling that it was hard to continue reading.
I do not plan to critic the book but I will say that it was hard to read the way that the family housekeeper and her husband are portrayed. This book is no longer a book for children but a study in how literature for children has changed over the last 100 years.
Reading this book is a case of culture shock. It was published in 1913 and it is so simplistic in its telling that it was hard to continue reading.
I do not plan to critic the book but I will say that it was hard to read the way that the family housekeeper and her husband are portrayed. This book is no longer a book for children but a study in how literature for children has changed over the last 100 years.
November 26, 2013
My girls love this series. IT's definitely dated, but there are many ideas of things to do that are usually outside of the scope of our regular ideas. There's a bully featured in every book, and the twins often find a way for pay backs. Most of all, the twins always bump into a mystery, and by the end of the book it's solved in a tidy way. The books stand alone, they don't build on each other; you can read them out of order.
June 11, 2011
I read every Bobbsey Twins adventures I could get my hands on from the age of 9 through 11. Summers were wonderful and I could borrow from the library and read these books. I could borrow 8 books every 2 weeks. Soon, I needed more than that and had to fight the librarian for more books. Now, I can do 8 books in a day.
May 22, 2016
It's fascinating reading a book set so firmly in another era. This is definitely not timeless. An ice-cream man comes to the school every day to sell. All those kids with spare change? The mystery was completely obvious as I imagine it was written that way for the younger readers. Still, it was moderately entertaining and pleasant to see a kind and caring family.
February 21, 2008
I spent a week or more at my Grandparents during the summer. They had all the Bobbsey Twin books and many Nancy Drew books. So I would lay in my Grandmother's garden and read. I remember enjoy all of the adventure of the Bobbsey Twins.
Read
September 7, 2008Growing up in the '50's, I owned and read the first 40 of the Bobbsey Twins. These are the books that first hooked me on reading. These old editions are terribly racist, but there are new ones that have eliminated that problem. But for this reason, I am not rating the series.
September 7, 2011
As an eighth grader i found it rather juvenile considering I read it as a school book. But if I were reading it as a just cause book, I thought it was a really sweet book with cute characters and a fun story line. And now I am interested in finding out what the other Bobbsey Twins books are like!
May 5, 2013
One question after reading this book: How come my school never had a museum? What a fun idea! Of course, then the Danny Ruggs of the world would have spoiled everything.
Still, another fun book in the series. I'm glad I read it. :)
Still, another fun book in the series. I'm glad I read it. :)
April 14, 2015
Another cute story, not very long at all. This one was fun as I got to read about the Bobbsey twins at school, and yet another animal joins the family. This is an easy read for those who like old books and youthful stories.
May 21, 2020
There are too many references to people being rough and even abusive with animals in this series. It's really hard to read.
March 23, 2007
A book about kids going to school...now there's excitement.
January 4, 2010
The Bobnsey's solve a mystery at school
March 22, 2011
Cute little story about a double twin family and their adventures stemming from a circus wreck on the way home from summer vacation, and dealings with a bully during the school year.
February 2, 2013
So fun to be reading these again with my 11 yr old! And I'm sure her 7 yr old sister will be getting her hands on them next now that she's devouring chapter books.
Read
March 31, 2014Very sweet
August 20, 2014
I liked it. They were trying to get a statue back for their school museum. They caught the person and then their boat house was set on fire.
November 12, 2015
I enjoyed it!
March 16, 2019
i loved it! i started reading it because of my english teacher but i started to fell in love with the characters
March 10, 2020
My favorite character was? Bert. because he helped his friends
What surprised me most? That Bert discovered the mystery.
Would I like to change the ending? no i like it the way its
What surprised me most? That Bert discovered the mystery.
Would I like to change the ending? no i like it the way its
May 9, 2019
The Bobbsey Twin Series, Bk 4? EB-B, O.D., Gutenburg Project, Release date July 2004, Read 5/6/19, originally published before 1913. Juvenile fiction, mystery series, twins. Okay, I enjoyed this book, although the children's language was more formal, and older than their ages would generally use. And the racist attitudes expressed in the book were indicative of the era in which it was written. But I am totally confused. The name of the book was as written above, but when I went into Goodreads to record my review, the description was completely different. In my story, the family was coming home by train, after a vacation in the country. The train came to a sudden stop because there had been a circus train wreck on the track in front of them. Animals were roaming the area. They finally got home and started the school year. But there were no valuable pieces missing from the school's museum, as the Goodreads description suggests. I don't understand the mix-up in story lines, as both stories were marked with Bk #4 series identification. Gave it 2 ☆'s = Okay, for young readers. Story was very dated as is to be expected.
October 18, 2019
There's definitely more than one detail that hasn't aged well since 1913 (fat women belonging to circuses and Dinah's entire character, to name just two), so it's not actually a book I would recommend for children, the simplicity of the story and prose aside. Nevertheless, if you can swallow the dated expectations it's otherwise a very enjoyable read. I've always like straightforward, slice of life adventures and Hope's writing style nails that perfectly. There's something charming and, for me, soothing about something as simple as sledding or a missing button on a Halloween costume filling up whole chapters. Kids really do see the world that way, little things that adults overlook or have no time for manage to consume their whole attention. It's nostalgic, just (sadly) a nostalgia that comes with racism and enforced gender roles along with the cute adventures.
October 12, 2020
This is my first Bobbsey Twins book. While it is obviously meant for young readers, I did find some of the information and twists that the story takes intriguing and curious. There were a couple of things that I could not figure out and a couple of things that I did figure out. So I think this book is complex enough for an adult without talking down to a child. I have always heard of these books and wanted to give them a try. I will definitely be reading another one. This is one of the shorter ones so it is easy to fit into an afternoon or evening morning. I did not know how many twins there were so I found this book a fun read. Reading dark subjects as I do it is always nice to pick up some thing that is a little lighter and good at the same time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews