The Secret Of The Red Arrow By Franklin W Dixon I Book Review By Rishav,11,Kolkata

 Book Review : The Secret Of The Red Arrow By Franklin W Dixon

Book : The Secret Of The Red Arrow By Franklin W Dixon

This book revolves around two central characters, Frank and Joe Hardy. Their father, Fenton Hardy, is a renowned private detective. Frank and Joe began using their deductive skills at an early age. They took on cases and, most of the time, succeeded in catching the crooks. However, since detective work is jeopardizing their futures, they have made the infamous deal referenced throughout the book, aptly named  ‘Deal’. This deal is the only thing keeping their future secure and protecting them from being sent to Abode’s School of Behaviour Modification. If they are caught sleuthing, they will be sent to that school.

This is their situation at the beginning of the book. They would go mad without sleuthing, so they occasionally take on cases for friends, keeping it a secret. Everything is going normally until Sharelle Bunyan, the sister of Neal ‘Neanderthal’ Bunyan—who is not on good terms with the Hardys—asks for help. This raises suspicion for the Hardys; still, they agree.

They find out from Neal that someone has been recording him in his sleep and sending the footage to him. Neal is scared and bewildered, as there is no sign of a camera anywhere. The Hardy boys then take an interest in a symbol of a triangle with three legs. Neal explains that it was an arrowhead he had drawn when he was younger.

That night, the Hardys watch a live stream of Neal and witness an attack. The next morning, Neal is hit by a car. The Hardys then discover that the triangle with three legs is known as the Red Arrow. It is a mark signifying that something bad will happen—sometimes minor, sometimes life-threatening. Frank and Joe decide to investigate further.

What happens next? Will Frank and Joe succeed in taking down an age-old criminal organization that has been operating in Bayport since long before their birth, or have they finally met their match?

Evaluation

Unlike other Hardy Boys books, this one does not strike me as a children’s book; I believe it is more suited for teenagers.

I appreciate the new writing style that some authors are adopting, where one chapter is narrated by one main character and the next by another. This technique, also used by Dixon in this book, adds more depth to the characters’ emotions and thoughts while maintaining overall continuity.

Another notable aspect is the lucid and informal style of writing, a trend that writers, including Franklin Dixon, are increasingly embracing. This makes the story easier to understand and a quicker read. The mystery in this book is also much deeper compared to previous Hardy Boys stories. The perilous, tightly woven situation crafted by Dixon adds layers of complexity, making the plot even more gripping.

Final Verdict

Considering all factors, I rate The Secret of the Red Arrow 3.5/5. The story could have been extended and improved had it continued from where it ended. Perhaps Dixon could write a sequel to further develop the plot. For this reason, I am giving it 3.5/5 instead of 4/5.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5)
Recommended for: Ages 9 and above

-By Rishav Das

***

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 – Copyright Free, Royalty Free images from Pexels

Want to publish your articles, reviews, stories, audio stories, bedtime stories and poems ?

Did you know that children can submit audio stories to be turned into Bedtime Stories and published on Bedtime Stories – A Podcast by Bookosmia?

Write to us at sara@bookosmia.com or submit your article at the link below

Get Published

Read More

Movie Review : A Minecraft Movie By Arnav, Bangalore

Buy The Books

https://bookosmia.com/shop/