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UCFC Book Reviews The Hardy Boys: The Clue of the Broken Blade by Franklin W. Dixon (revised text) Review by V. Bjerreskov, 01 08 13 ISBN 0448089211, published 1970 I start this review with a caveat: I am not a 10 to 14 year old boy living in the 1970s. I read this book in about an hour, and my, my, wasn't it a read. It made me laugh, at any rate, though I don't believe it was Dixon's original intention to do so. This is the first Hardy Boys novel I have ever read, but it reads so formulaic that I have no need to read any of the others. Frank and Joe Hardy attend a fencing school along with some of their friends, and despite the fact that they are often jetsetting around the U.S. solving mysteries with their father, they are both exceedingly good at fencing. In fact, so good that they double for injured fencing masters on a movie set later in the novel. They are hired by their fencing master to find the guard half of a broken blade that will prove him the heir to his grandfather's fortune. And through an incredible series of lucky breaks, they do so. I don't believe I'm spoiling the ending by telling you that they succeed. The descriptions of fencing in this book are above average. Dixon (although Dixon as an individual does not exist) obviously spent some time researching the sport, and had a fencer look over his work before publishing. Admittedly, what with Frank and Joe's career as crimefighters, they would not have time to become as proficient with all three weapons as they are purported to be, but we leave it because it is part of their characters. There is a pseudo-duel that leaves something to be desired in terms of the sportsmanship of the opponent, but again, it serves to highlight the Hardys' characters. And that is perhaps my biggest comment about the book. Frank and Joe Hardy are perfect. They have no flaws whatsoever. They are attractive, smart, decently well off financially, famous, and good at absolutely everything. All the young ladies they meet immediately fall for them, and with the exception of the villains, every man they meet treats them as good buddies. I like my characters believable, and the Hardys just aren't. But like I said, I'm not an adolescent boy. Maybe if I was, I would want to aspire to be like Frank and Joe. So, it wasn't a bad read, because it was funny, but I do expect a little more depth to the main characters, even in childrens' books. As far as I know, this book is only available as a used hardcover. Back to Book Reviews Home  |  About Us   |  About Fencing   |  Links  |  Photo Gallery Image Bank  |  Reviews   |  Fencing Fun  |  Contact Us