The Viking Symbol Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon I Book Review By Rishav

Book Review: The Viking Symbol Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon 

I picked this up from my school library. I was very eager to read a book in the Hardy Boy series. Last time I read one was when I was in 4th or, maybe, 5th grade, now I am in 7th grade. I had not read a Hardy Boys mystery in a long time. It did not disappoint much. I can affirmatively say it’s a very average read.

Plot and Protagonists

Before I divulge my views, I shall paint a picture of the plot and the protagonist of this book. Surprisingly, there are eight protagonists but the way they play a part in the overall plot makes some of them feel like side characters. Though there are, as I mentioned before, eight characters only three, maybe four, of them have explored and definitive personalities. Therefore all the other characters are very generic and shallow. The three fleshed out characters are Joe and Frank Hardy, the duo after whom the entire series is named and Chet Morton, the duo’s trusty companion known for his tremendous appetite. The other four are Mr. Hardy or Fenton Hardy, the father of the dynamic duo of brothers, Sam Radley, Fenton’s agent and informative associate of the Hardy Boys, Tony Prito, Hardy Boys’ friend, and Biff Hooper, another friend of the brothers. A slightly fleshed out character is Caribou Caron. He is a woodsman of the North Western Territories of Canada who has been living in the city. The brothers and Chet accidentally meet him and he becomes their faithful guide and loyal friend.

The Hardy Boys are brothers. They are the brilliant protégés of their father who is a private investigator. The Hardy Boys along with Chet goes to Canada for a case which Mr. Hardy assigns them with. Tony and Biff also go to Canada but to a different location. They are tasked to assist Sam Radley.

What I Liked

The book is quite a fast-read. The ending can appropriately be described as eventful. The plot is well orchestrated.

Critical Analysis

As a critic I have to state both the good and the bad of this book. So, I shall now criticize its flaws. The characters of this book are very shallow. The book focuses only on the adventurous side and not on character building. Therefore, the reader faces the vice of neither being able to sympathize nor empathize with the characters. Tony and Biff are just there and do not participate in the Hardy Boys’ adventures. It feels like the only purpose of them are to be there with Radley. Also, Sam Radley is the one that kicks off the story but becomes obsolete afterwards.

Now coming to the French-Canadian Caribou. His character has some more depth than the persons mentioned before. It seems that the author has given more attention to him when he could have redirected it to more important characters’ feelings making the core story much richer and vibrant. Chet, Biff and Tony’s emotions and characters not being explored makes the story feel dull. If the characters were explored more and maybe if the backstory of Caribou had been dovetailed into the story the book would be improved greatly.

Now, shifting focus to the characters to the plot, I have very few criticisms. The only thing I must say is that this story lacks twists. The villain is very bland. Maybe if he had some backstory or twists about his character included it would not be so.

Rating – 5 ½ /10

All in all, I feel that this book deserves a five and a half out of ten (5 ½ /10). I think this book could have been much better if the perspectives of all characters were included, this being the primary reason that I lowered the rating by a point. The targeted audience is the age range of eight to thirteen years. The book can be placed in the genre of adventure but it also contains detective work.

Age

For readers in the 8 to 13 years age range who like adventure with some detective work mixed into it

FAQs – The Viking Symbol Mystery

Who wrote The Viking Symbol Mystery?
The book is written under the name Franklin W. Dixon, which is a pseudonym used for the Hardy Boys series.

What series does this book belong to?
It is part of the famous Hardy Boys mystery series.

Who are the main characters in the story?
The primary characters are Frank Hardy, Joe Hardy, and Chet Morton. Other important characters include Fenton Hardy, Sam Radley, Tony Prito, Biff Hooper, and Caribou Caron.

What is the basic plot of the book?
The Hardy Boys travel to Canada to investigate a mystery assigned by their father, Fenton Hardy. Along the way, they uncover clues related to Viking symbols and face dangerous situations.

What genre does the book fall under?
The book belongs to the adventure and detective (mystery) genre.

Is this book fast-paced?
Yes, it is a quick and easy read with an eventful ending.

What are the strengths of the book?

• Fast-moving plot

• Adventurous storyline

• Clear mystery structure

What are the weaknesses of the book?

• Limited character development

• Predictable villain

• Lack of major twists

What age group is this book suitable for?
It is best suited for readers aged 8 to 13 years.

What is the overall rating?
5½ out of 10 – An average read with room for stronger character depth and plot twists.

Where can you buy the books ?
You can  uy the books at Bookosmia and Amazon.

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Do not miss reading this gripping tale of friendship, secrets and suspense penned by Utpal R Raja, author of the much loved ‘Diary Of Not So Popular Kid’ and illustrated by Pragya Sharma.

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This article is published by Bookosmia, India’s #1 publisher for and by young people. Bookosmia publishes stories, books, podcasts, events, TED-Ed talks, workshops, bedtime stories and more related to kids and young adults.

Photo Credit – AI generated images from Chat GPT and Magic Media from Canva .

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