The Happy Hollisters series of books was produced from 1953 to 1969 and was a product of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, who were also responsible for the Nancy Drew Mysteries, the Hardy Boys series, and the Bobbsey Twins books, among many others. In most Stratemeyer series, a pen name was chosen (Carolyn Keene for the Nancy Drew books, for example) but the books were actually written by several authors. In the case of The Happy Hollisters, a pseudonym was chosen (Jerry West) but all 33 of the books in the series were written by the same man, Andrew Svenson.
Svenson modeled the Hollister family after his own--the children in the stories are based on his own children and the adventures they had while growing up. The father in the stories owns a hardware/toy store called The Trading Post and the family goes on all kinds of wholesome educational adventures that inevitably include a mystery.
I first encountered The Happy Hollisters books when I was in 4th or 5th grade. My mom had read the books as a child and introduced them to me, and luckily our local library had several titles. I read all that they had, although I'm sure I didn't read all 33 of them.
I started junk shopping and thrifting when I was in college, though I didn't start to do it with any regularity until we moved to Colorado, nearly eight years ago. Since the beginning of my thrifting adventures I've been on the lookout for Happy Hollisters books to start my own collection, and in all of that time I've only managed to find FIVE titles, including the one from last week! That's not counting titles I've found at antique stores, because I'm not so serious about my collection that I want to pay antique store prices. I'm cheap. :)
The books do sell on eBay, but really only in large lots. I haven't studied them well enough to know if there are any particularly rare volumes in the series that fetch higher prices individually. It's interesting to me that this lot of 28 went for $247, but this lot of 28 only went for $68. I'd say that second buyer got a deal!
There is an official Happy Hollisters website here, if you want to read more about the books and their author, Andrew Svenson. The series was hugely popular--one of the Stratemeyer Syndicate's most successful. In 2010, some of the titles were re-released in paperback and are even available on Amazon or in e-book format for your Kindle or Nook. Or you can always keep an eye out for the original hardbacks, like I'll be doing!
Bummer that our library doesnt have any! Jack likes the Hardy Boys, we bought a huge box of them at a yard sale for $2. (nice!)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to keep an eye out for these for you, but I'm pretty sure I've never seen any since I don't think I have ever heard of the Happy Hollisters. I have the complete set of the Bobbsey Twins. They are in storage, but with my love of vintage - I think I need to get them out!
ReplyDeleteI did not know about the Happy Hollisters until I moved to Colorado and picked some of them up at a thrift in my serious book-scouting days. It's odd that I never knew about them as a child; they were published in the time period when I was reading that kind of thing. Nancy Drew was my favorite - and I read a ton of those as a kid!
ReplyDeleteThank you for mentioning the Happy Hollisters, and the official website, www.TheHappyHollisters.com in your blog!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that Andrew Svenson (my husband's grandfather) would be very happy indeed that his books made such a long-lasting impression!
We have been very pleased that people who read the books as children are now sharing them with their own children and grandchildren, and the support for our reissue project has been great!We intend to reissue several volumes each year in paperback and eBook format, until the whole series of 33 books is available once again.
As you mentioned, many of the books are available on eBay and in used book stores. The last in the series, The Mystery of the Midnight Trolls, had a smaller original print run and tends to be one of the most difficult to find (and the most expensive!)
Please let us know at any time if you have any questions about the "real" Hollister family (my husband's father, aunts, and uncles) or feel free to join us on Facebook and meet some other long-time fans of the series. (Facebook.com/TheHappyHollisters)
Thanks again!
Callie Svenson
I, too, love the Happy Hollister books!! My brother had a number of them when we were kids and I liked reading them. I now am trying to build up my own collection as I find them at yard sales and antique shops. I often find myself referring to outside, fun, homey feeling activities as a Happy Hollister moment. Sadly, most people don't have a clue what I'm referring to. :)
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