The Object:
The Origin: Various sellers at the annual Printers Row Lit Fest from 2006 to present. I’m acquiring them slowly and currently have six.
The Backstory:
I grew up reading the capers of these five little mystery-solvers every summer when I’d visit my grandmother in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. Grandmom had the complete collection of well-worn, creased hardbacks that had been read by several cousins before I discovered them. I’d grab one from the shelf by the kitchen, head out to the hammock in the yard, and dissolve into the pages.
The Hollister children solved crimes, mysteries, and riddles at home and on all of their assorted travels (camping, on a river boat, at a dude ranch, in Copenhagen). The books preached obedience to your parents and the value of teamwork (especially with your siblings). They are set in a simpler time – one devoid of drugs or stranger-danger. Eight year-old Helena couldn’t get enough.
I didn’t give the Hollisters much thought after about 1992. I’d moved on to more grown-up groups of friends (hello, Babysitters’ Club).
My first Summer in Chicago, re-discovered the Happy bunch at my favorite Summer festival – the Printers’ Row Lit Fest. While I still have many books to go before I have a complete series, I’m enjoying slowly re-acquiring them. It’s fun to dig through children’s literature to find the five beaming faces of the Hollister offspring. I only let myself get one a year.
The books represent a personal collection, but they aren’t precious. I hope someday to have kids in my life who wear out the spines a little more.
Update!: I just learned that these books were first purchased for my mother! I’m sure someone told me this at some point and it didn’t stick. I most-closely associate my mother’s childhood reading with Trixie Belden (though I suppose that would be the next-step series up from The Happy Hollisters).
Read the rest of the series here.
brianne says
I totally grew up reading my mom’s trixie belden books! I’m sure I would love these as well.
brianne says
I totally grew up reading my mom’s trixie belden books! I’m sure I would love these as well.
Nancy says
What a find. I have never heard of that series. I have read a couple from the Trixie Belden series, two from Cherry Ames (Nurse mystery solver) and Vicki Engish (stewardess). These were harder to come by so I always went back to my standby Nancy Drew. I’ll have to check out the Printer’s Row fair sometime. Would love to share some times with any one of these gals again.
Nancy says
What a find. I have never heard of that series. I have read a couple from the Trixie Belden series, two from Cherry Ames (Nurse mystery solver) and Vicki Engish (stewardess). These were harder to come by so I always went back to my standby Nancy Drew. I’ll have to check out the Printer’s Row fair sometime. Would love to share some times with any one of these gals again.
Helena says
Ooh, I haven’t heard of those series! Printer’s Row has all kinds of stuff, so you may have luck there!
Erin says
I was a Nancy Drew, Bobsy Twins, Boxcar Children girl. The “child/young adult solving mysteries” trope is pretty vast, it seems. The English major in me is itching to do some research and write a crit lit paper on why that is…
Helena says
I loved the Boxcar Children!
Erin says
I was a Nancy Drew, Bobsy Twins, Boxcar Children girl. The “child/young adult solving mysteries” trope is pretty vast, it seems. The English major in me is itching to do some research and write a crit lit paper on why that is…
Helena says
I loved the Boxcar Children!
l-theanine says
Greeting from over the sea. informative post I shall return for more.
l-theanine says
Greeting from over the sea. informative post I shall return for more.
reno lovison says
If you would like to experience a little of the Chicago Printers Row Lit Fest. Check out http://www.authorsbroadcast.com to watch our monthly “Authors Showcase” program. The July and August episodes are dedicated to the Chicago Lit Fest 2012. Find new books and authors. See what you missed or review the fun you had.
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