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Original Bobbsey Twins #9
The Bobbsey Twins' Search in the Great City
In pictorial boards; no dj as issued. The Bobbsey Twins' Search in the Great City, 09. 2004, hardcover edition (re-issue of this classic tale by Laura Lee Hope), Grosset and Dunlap, NY. 185 pages. Large, readable type. Nice black and white illustrations throughout.
196 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1913
About the author
Laura Lee Hope
602 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 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 17, 2020
The Bobbsey Twins are two sets of twins in the same family. They go on adventures and like juvenile sleuths they solve mysteries. In the meantime they enjoy all sorts of escapades and meet many interesting, as well as a few, dangerous people.
There are many elements to the story that I liked. The Bobbsey family went on a picnic, but are interrupted by a heavy rainstorm. They end up taking a wrong turn in the forest and get lost.
They meet a curator to a local museum who invites them to stay at his house and also show them around the museum.
The man comments that he has twin siblings but lost touch with them years ago. The last he heard of them is that they were living in New York City. The twins are going to New York. They make a plan to try and find his brother and sister.
In the meantime a criminal is on the loose and the twins are sure they saw him in the woods during the storm.
The family finally makes it to New York. They go to the top of the Statue of Liberty, make new friends in the hotel the stay at and meet nice and not so nice people in the city. I think a young person would enjoy the "mini" adventures because it would develop an appetite for visiting far away and exciting places.
What I did not like is that a certain amount of the adventures were caused by the twins, especially the younger set by continually disobeying their parents. They get lost in the city on numerous occasions, the younger boy sneaks into the torch of the Statue of Liberty and gets locked in.
There are no negative consequences to any of these occasions. I couldn't help thinking that a really big spanking was due somewhere.
I bought this as a set and will be reviewing more adventures of the Bobbsey Twins.
There are many elements to the story that I liked. The Bobbsey family went on a picnic, but are interrupted by a heavy rainstorm. They end up taking a wrong turn in the forest and get lost.
They meet a curator to a local museum who invites them to stay at his house and also show them around the museum.
The man comments that he has twin siblings but lost touch with them years ago. The last he heard of them is that they were living in New York City. The twins are going to New York. They make a plan to try and find his brother and sister.
In the meantime a criminal is on the loose and the twins are sure they saw him in the woods during the storm.
The family finally makes it to New York. They go to the top of the Statue of Liberty, make new friends in the hotel the stay at and meet nice and not so nice people in the city. I think a young person would enjoy the "mini" adventures because it would develop an appetite for visiting far away and exciting places.
What I did not like is that a certain amount of the adventures were caused by the twins, especially the younger set by continually disobeying their parents. They get lost in the city on numerous occasions, the younger boy sneaks into the torch of the Statue of Liberty and gets locked in.
There are no negative consequences to any of these occasions. I couldn't help thinking that a really big spanking was due somewhere.
I bought this as a set and will be reviewing more adventures of the Bobbsey Twins.
July 19, 2020
Plenty of interesting facts in this book for young kids to discover. However. Freddie and Flossie must run off without permission and get lost at least a half-dozen times. All without any real punishment for their misbehavior. I wanted to slap Mrs. Bobbsey in this one, especially since she claims early on in the story that she's visited New York City several times. Then she should know how dangerous it can be, even back in the 1960s, for a little kid to run off and get lost. At the very least, they might be hit by a car. I started thinking she must be on Prozac or something.
This book, like most of the other early entries in the "purple" editions, features my favorite illustrations of the twins, where Nan has a long ponytail and freckles.
This book, like most of the other early entries in the "purple" editions, features my favorite illustrations of the twins, where Nan has a long ponytail and freckles.
May 31, 2016
At their home in Lakeport on the shores of Lake Metoka the Bobbsey Twins, Fred and Flossie and Nan and Bert, were going to visit the Meredith Zoo prior to their father having to go on business to New York. On their way back they encounter an ugly looking character who makes a hasty departure just before the Bobbsey's car hits a hole in the unmade road.
The family are taken to the Meredith home where they meet the caretaker Jack Whipple, who, while they await a repair truck, tells them a sad story of losing his younger brother and sister when they were taken in by another family. All he knew was that he had heard that his sister had eventually relocated to New York. As Mr Bobbsey was taking his family with him to New York, the two sets of twins determined to see if they could discover the long-lost sister.
In between Mr Bobbsey conducting his business the family visit many of the sites of New York such as the Bronx Zoo, the Planetarium and Liberty Island and between them they get into a variety of scrapes. They also make some interesting new friends, one of whose father owns a toy store, much to the Bobbseys' delight, and amazingly they spot the ugly looking character they had encountered while on the Meredith Estate. By then they had learnt that this person was a criminal nicknamed Dogface Pete that the police were looking for and in an attempt to assist, the twins follow him but eventually lose him in the city.
Undeterred they continue their search both for Jack Whipple's sister and for Dogface Pete and in a surprising ending, they are successful in both ventures, but not until after a few hair-raising episodes that keep the reader glued to this enjoyable plot throughout.
The family are taken to the Meredith home where they meet the caretaker Jack Whipple, who, while they await a repair truck, tells them a sad story of losing his younger brother and sister when they were taken in by another family. All he knew was that he had heard that his sister had eventually relocated to New York. As Mr Bobbsey was taking his family with him to New York, the two sets of twins determined to see if they could discover the long-lost sister.
In between Mr Bobbsey conducting his business the family visit many of the sites of New York such as the Bronx Zoo, the Planetarium and Liberty Island and between them they get into a variety of scrapes. They also make some interesting new friends, one of whose father owns a toy store, much to the Bobbseys' delight, and amazingly they spot the ugly looking character they had encountered while on the Meredith Estate. By then they had learnt that this person was a criminal nicknamed Dogface Pete that the police were looking for and in an attempt to assist, the twins follow him but eventually lose him in the city.
Undeterred they continue their search both for Jack Whipple's sister and for Dogface Pete and in a surprising ending, they are successful in both ventures, but not until after a few hair-raising episodes that keep the reader glued to this enjoyable plot throughout.
December 26, 2022
There are two ways to think of these books, written in an earlier era. The first is to consider the mystery. This one relies on quite a few coincidences that seem highly improbable in a city as large as New York. The book does effectively function as a travelogue, one of the reasons why I remember loving it as a child.
The reason I reread it, though, was to see if it was appropriate reading for a modern seven year old. Dinah and Sam are not described using current terminology. Italian immigrant characters have their dialogue put into stereotypical accents. Freddie, Flossie, and their friend Bruce often run away and get into trouble. Nan and Bert feed a roaming cheetah. Adult strangers are constantly giving or at least offering presents. Given the time period that this was written in, it mostly felt like the book could be given context and allowed. However, I don’t want to encourage the thinking that if you leave the place of your playdate, tell no one where you’re going, run away from the police, and walk far enough, you’ll receive any toy you like from a fabulous store owned by strangers followed by no punishment. The audience I was thinking of just might try it. As a kid, I never would have.
The reason I reread it, though, was to see if it was appropriate reading for a modern seven year old. Dinah and Sam are not described using current terminology. Italian immigrant characters have their dialogue put into stereotypical accents. Freddie, Flossie, and their friend Bruce often run away and get into trouble. Nan and Bert feed a roaming cheetah. Adult strangers are constantly giving or at least offering presents. Given the time period that this was written in, it mostly felt like the book could be given context and allowed. However, I don’t want to encourage the thinking that if you leave the place of your playdate, tell no one where you’re going, run away from the police, and walk far enough, you’ll receive any toy you like from a fabulous store owned by strangers followed by no punishment. The audience I was thinking of just might try it. As a kid, I never would have.
January 29, 2025
The Bobbsey twins reside at Lakeport. They plan to go on a vacation to New York. On the way, they meet with a burglar called Pete Rocco, who is wanted by The Police.
They visit a Zoo, The Museum Of Natural History, The Statue Of Liberty, The Staten Island and the Central Park. On a stroll through Lower Manhattan , they again spot Rocco. The Bobbsey twins report him to the The New York Police, who apprehend him. In the process, they acquit their friend, Mr. Dickerson, who was falsely accused in the case.
One more mystery solved by The Bobbsey Twins.
They visit a Zoo, The Museum Of Natural History, The Statue Of Liberty, The Staten Island and the Central Park. On a stroll through Lower Manhattan , they again spot Rocco. The Bobbsey twins report him to the The New York Police, who apprehend him. In the process, they acquit their friend, Mr. Dickerson, who was falsely accused in the case.
One more mystery solved by The Bobbsey Twins.
January 26, 2026
The Bobbsey Twins ride in an ice boat. Freddie and Flossey are taken care of by Uncle Jack (woodsman) after the ice boat crashes. They go to New York where Freddie and Flossey get lost over and over again (on the high train, at the zoo, while observing a fire). They make friends with a boy (Laddie) who lives at the Hotel (with his Aunt) that they are staying in. Mr. Bobbsey sends money for the woodsman's medical care and Mr. Whipple (department store owner) joins in. It turns out that the woodsman was Mr. Whipple's long lost brother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2024
Hope Chests #9
Bobbsey Twins #9
I am not by nature a violent man, but after reading this I wanted to take those two yong kids and give them a decent smack in the chops.
Stay there for five minutes - oh no we will wander off like morons.
Seriously perhaps the two kids both called fat by their idiotic parents are an analogy of the USA.
Irritating people made the nice ending less than satisfying because you could not empathise with the characters because most of them were so dopey!
Bobbsey Twins #9
I am not by nature a violent man, but after reading this I wanted to take those two yong kids and give them a decent smack in the chops.
Stay there for five minutes - oh no we will wander off like morons.
Seriously perhaps the two kids both called fat by their idiotic parents are an analogy of the USA.
Irritating people made the nice ending less than satisfying because you could not empathise with the characters because most of them were so dopey!
June 24, 2023
Wow, I don't know how Mr & Mrs Bobbssey survived the two younger twins. All innocence on their part but heart inducing trauma for their parents. Then getting lost in an elevated train far away from the rest of the family.I would have been frightened and I am far older than the younger twins. I never read these books as a child. I am enjoying them now.
November 11, 2023
I'm sorry, but my main takeaways from this book were: 1) DON'T take your eyes off your six-year-olds; and 2) DON'T reward them for accidentally running off (repeatedly) by buying them what they want when you find them.
This book stressed me out something fierce.
This book stressed me out something fierce.
June 16, 2025
This was a really good book. It is cool that Mr. Bobbsey made his business trip into a family vacation. The twins got to see history. Also besides all the wonderful sightseeing and fun that they did, they also met new friends and solved 2 mysteries. So cool 😎.
October 27, 2025
Enjoying reading more of these books. I have a couple leftover from my childhood and now reading more via Kindle. What a simpler time back when these were written--can't imagine my children missing in modern day New York.
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August 26, 2020No Dust jacket have
January 23, 2022
Another fun Bobbsey adventure that ends well and everyone is blissfully happy. I enjoy stories that include family reunification.
July 26, 2025
I love a mystery. Mystery old enough to see how people lives in the past.
November 10, 2015
Originally published in 1917 under the title The Bobbsey Twins in a Great City, The Bobbsey Twins' Search in the Great City is the first book I've read of this series. When I started reading mysteries, I plunged straight in with the teenagers--Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, a few Dana Girls, and Trixie Belden. I always thought the Bobbsey twins would be a bit young for my tastes. So, you might ask, why did I pick this one up now? Well, my mom had mentioned that she had read some of them when she was young and I needed a book published in 1917 for a challenge (it almost always boils down to a challenge for me when it's something off the usual).
Just before setting off on a trip to New York City, the Bobbsey twins meet Jack Whipple, a man who works on an estate turned public park and zoo outside their hometown. When "Uncle Jack" as they decide to call him discovers that they are headed to the big city, he mentions wistfully that he wonders if his long-lost brother and sister (who also happen to be twins) are there. The last he'd heard of them they were supposedly bound for NYC. The twins promise to keep their eyes open for any Whipples they might meet. In the end they help the old man to find his long-lost brother and sister, as well as to catch the man who had robbed the estate and then tried to frame Whipple.
Like so many of these books, there are a great many coincidences involved here. But they are good, simple mysteries and reflect a much simpler time. Could you imagine if the twins got themselves lost in NYC today? The parents would lose their children to Child Services and probably be thrown in jail for neglect. Instead, everyone who comes in contact with the Bobbsey family are friendly and helpful and only want to see the kids safely back where they belong.
It does stretch the imagination a bit that the kids would repeatedly go astray. If my dad had told me not to wander off once, that would have been enough. Pretty posters or music wouldn't have made me disobey repeatedly. And Dad wouldn't have been so good-natured about it if I had. A little bit of discipline would be a good thing. Other than the "can't stay put where they ought to be" syndrome, the kids are good kids--kind-hearted and respectful of the people around them and wanting to help anyone they can. The mystery isn't much, but I didn't really expect 6-12 year olds to be dealing with hardened criminals and murder. ★★★ for a pleasant read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Just before setting off on a trip to New York City, the Bobbsey twins meet Jack Whipple, a man who works on an estate turned public park and zoo outside their hometown. When "Uncle Jack" as they decide to call him discovers that they are headed to the big city, he mentions wistfully that he wonders if his long-lost brother and sister (who also happen to be twins) are there. The last he'd heard of them they were supposedly bound for NYC. The twins promise to keep their eyes open for any Whipples they might meet. In the end they help the old man to find his long-lost brother and sister, as well as to catch the man who had robbed the estate and then tried to frame Whipple.
Like so many of these books, there are a great many coincidences involved here. But they are good, simple mysteries and reflect a much simpler time. Could you imagine if the twins got themselves lost in NYC today? The parents would lose their children to Child Services and probably be thrown in jail for neglect. Instead, everyone who comes in contact with the Bobbsey family are friendly and helpful and only want to see the kids safely back where they belong.
It does stretch the imagination a bit that the kids would repeatedly go astray. If my dad had told me not to wander off once, that would have been enough. Pretty posters or music wouldn't have made me disobey repeatedly. And Dad wouldn't have been so good-natured about it if I had. A little bit of discipline would be a good thing. Other than the "can't stay put where they ought to be" syndrome, the kids are good kids--kind-hearted and respectful of the people around them and wanting to help anyone they can. The mystery isn't much, but I didn't really expect 6-12 year olds to be dealing with hardened criminals and murder. ★★★ for a pleasant read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
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December 15, 2023I’m doing my best to downsize my book collection of 65 years and after reading a number of rather heavy political and historical books, I decided to sort through the books I had been given as a child so many years ago. I remembered reading this in 1965 thinking how wonderful it would be to visit New York. I’ve been to many cities in my life since but still haven’t visited New York yet know much more about that city now than I did way back then. It was at the time to me a completely different world. Children allowed to be freely roaming in NYC isn’t a likely promoted scenario today! A very quick read for me and intriguing to see how language and children’s literature for popular stories have changed over the years. I do remember that Bobbsey Twins Adventures were very popular during my upper primary school years. The style is quite nostalgic but the plot would still hold up if the language and style updated. I doubt if my grandchildren would read this now. For me it was a quick read of another era with dominant US American ideals. Interesting to read “frankfurters” not hot dogs! Ideas about zoos and animal freedom promoted, girls being accepted as young detectives yet still very gender based toy descriptions. As I’d expected of that era. I did learn something new though and that was Laura Lee Hope didn’t exist but that this is a pseudonym used by a syndicate and just how long the Bobbsey Twin stories kept being published 1904-1979! They were very popular. This one is now in my box to take to the op shop.
October 15, 2013
The twins have never gotten in more trouble than they have in the big city... New York City. They got lost a couple times, once in Grand Central Station. Freddie got rescued by a fireman... and since he wants to be one when he grows up he thought it was grand fun!!! His mother was not as pleased about it as he was. :-) The smaller set of twins got in more trouble than the older set, of course. And the smaller set of twins even got their older siblings in trouble once because they didn't obey. I won't tell you all their adventures because that would spoil the fun.
One thing I did notice was that the kids never really got punished at all. If those were my kids they would have had more done to them than just saying, “Don't do that ever again,” over and over and over. I won't say what I would have done... but I would have done more than THAT!! and that is for sure!!
I am now taking a little break from the Bobbsey Twins and am reading some other things. I will be back to read more of their books... soon!! :-)
One thing I did notice was that the kids never really got punished at all. If those were my kids they would have had more done to them than just saying, “Don't do that ever again,” over and over and over. I won't say what I would have done... but I would have done more than THAT!! and that is for sure!!
I am now taking a little break from the Bobbsey Twins and am reading some other things. I will be back to read more of their books... soon!! :-)
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October 30, 2008Reading on Gutenberg, because children's series written around the turn of the century fascinate me (not their updated incarnations, with all their political-correctness). Just the fact that Mr Bobbsey calls his children fat (in an admiring way) is hilarious! But dated or no, these parents need to either up their skills or get some leashes for the younger kids. Exhibit A: On losing his children for the bajillionth time, Mr Bobbsey says, "Now, as I said, don't worry. In a city children are always quickly found." Unbelievable!
***
Post-reading, this book is as preposterous as its first chapters. Not that I expected anything else, but really? Parents? These are the people who, twenty years later, would be wondering what went wrong with little Freddie and Flossie as they waste their lives away in the Lost Generation. How perfect: their future selves are a perfect descriptor of their childhood selves!
***
Post-reading, this book is as preposterous as its first chapters. Not that I expected anything else, but really? Parents? These are the people who, twenty years later, would be wondering what went wrong with little Freddie and Flossie as they waste their lives away in the Lost Generation. How perfect: their future selves are a perfect descriptor of their childhood selves!
December 29, 2011
I normally find these books quaint and cute but this one was just annoying. The younger twins in this story repeatedly get separated from their parents on 5 or 6 occasions in NYC. It wasn't charming that they got lost on the subway, in the zoo, in the midst of a FIRE, snuck onto a cop car, went into both a turtle habitat and an elephant one, etc. Their parents never really got after them, either. I get that it was the turn of the century and fictional obviously, but to me, these were written FOR kids to read and telling them that hopping on a subway train without your family in strange city turns out awesome, hilarious and totally undangerous is just stupid, even in 1918!
November 6, 2016
This should have been titled "The Bobbsey Twins get lost and run away every 2 pages and never get in trouble or in any danger even though they get lost/run away in the middle of New York City even when their parents tell them to stay still in fact instead of getting in trouble they are often rewarded for getting lost/running away and it happens so often you'll want to scream and/or throw the book across the room" but I suppose that would be too long a title and not the greatest endorsement for actually reading the book.
October 5, 2013
Although somewhat dated, The Bobsey Twins' series has value for 8-12 year olds. I read it to my 8 year old and she enjoyed the story. And there was vocabulary she learned, but it wasn't so above her head that she became disinterested or frustrated. The text was written so difficult vocabulary can be understood thru the context of the story. The parenting depicted in the book may offend some helicopter parents of today. But it's a story from a different time.
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. Sigh.
February 4, 2014
Good grief, can't those younger Bobbsey's stay put for a second? As a parent I'm horrified at how quickly they wander off - even after being told several times not to. Sheesh! Sorry, can't give this one better - too many coincidences though I enjoyed the trip to New York City with all the Twins. A fun read, but not their best.
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.
April 1, 2013
Read it when i was a kid.... it was great.... my interest built when i read these types of books.'m
August 8, 2014
Another fun Bobbsey twins adventure!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews