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The Hardy Boys: Secret Files #1
Trouble at the Arcade
In Trouble at the Arcade, nine-year-old Frank and eight-year-old Joe Hardy discover trouble lurking at the local arcade and decide they make pretty good detectives—just like their dad!
96 pages, Paperback
First published April 11, 2010
56 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
About the author
Franklin W. Dixon
1,473 books977 followersFranklin W. Dixon is the pen name used by a variety of different authors who were part of a team that wrote The Hardy Boys novels for the Stratemeyer Syndicate (now owned by Simon & Schuster). Dixon was also the writer attributed for the Ted Scott Flying Stories series, published by Grosset & Dunlap.
Canadian author Leslie McFarlane is believed to have written the first sixteen Hardy Boys books, but worked to a detailed plot and character outline for each story. The outlines are believed to have originated with Edward Stratemeyer, with later books outlined by his daughters Edna C. Squier and Harriet Stratemeyer Adams. Edward and Harriet also edited all books in the series through the mid-1960s. Other writers of the original books include MacFarlane's wife Amy, John Button, Andrew E. Svenson, and Adams herself; most of the outlines were done by Adams and Svenson. A number of other writers and editors were recruited to revise the outlines and update the texts in line with a more modern sensibility, starting in the late 1950s.
The principal author for the Ted Scott books was John W. Duffield.
Canadian author Leslie McFarlane is believed to have written the first sixteen Hardy Boys books, but worked to a detailed plot and character outline for each story. The outlines are believed to have originated with Edward Stratemeyer, with later books outlined by his daughters Edna C. Squier and Harriet Stratemeyer Adams. Edward and Harriet also edited all books in the series through the mid-1960s. Other writers of the original books include MacFarlane's wife Amy, John Button, Andrew E. Svenson, and Adams herself; most of the outlines were done by Adams and Svenson. A number of other writers and editors were recruited to revise the outlines and update the texts in line with a more modern sensibility, starting in the late 1950s.
The principal author for the Ted Scott books was John W. Duffield.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 12, 2024
I used to love reading Hardy Boys mysteries when I was a kid, so when I saw several at the local dollar store I decided to check them out. In this new version Frank and Joe are 8 and 9 years old. Obviously the stories are slanted toward much younger readers and the mysteries are much more adolescent in nature. Still, the spirit and fun of the original series shine through. This is a great way to get kids interested in mysteries and the Hardys.
November 4, 2022
This would have been three stars given the mediocre mystery but I drop it to two because I just really didn't like most of the characters or overall tone. Even Frank and Joe use words like "dumb" and "stupid" and, yes, I know kids do this sometimes but it just was done SO often and by just about everyone and I particularly dislike it when it's used to describe another person. The characters are unlikable, the side characters all seem nefarious, spoiled or just plain rude. The treatment toward the little sister is condescending. I don't like child protagonists who are impossibly perfect. But, I also don't like it when adult authors make kids sound like whiny brats. I vastly prefer the newer Clue Book Hardy Boys series where we have better mysteries, superior writing style and plenty of suspects without making everyone unlikable. (see this series The Garden Plot.)
September 26, 2018
A well-adapted version of the Hardy Boys for the new millennium and the video game crowd. Will do well at introducing budding readers to the Hardy Boys and hopefully entice them to read the classics. Will appeal to both boys and girls.
November 14, 2019
Read this with my 7 year old son he enjoyed it. ....
I first read this book to my son a few years ago. He loved it and we picked up several in the series. Now my son has just read this book to me, to get his reading time in for school. He made it through with help mostly on names. He really enjoyed the book and wants to read all 19 that are currently available in the series. It is very different than the Blue hard Cover Hardy Boys Mystery Stories I had when I was his age. But it was still a fun read.
The chapters in this volume are:
1 Alien Attack!
2 Fun World
3 A Major Score
4 Who’s the Thief?
5 A Big Threat
6 A Real Mystery
7 Who, What, When . . .
8 A New Suspect
9 Lost and Found
10 Secret File #1: Solved!
And from the books we have all the books in the series have 10 chapters. It is an interesting read. For my son they are new and exciting. The brothers are 8 and 9 years old in this book. The books have been scaled way back in complexity compared to the original series. But for younger readers, it will allow them to read the whole thing themselves. At the beginning of this stories the brothers are very competitive with each other. Teasing each other about the upcoming video game competition, and even making a bed about who will get to move into the renovated spare room. Their dad states:
“Anyway, don’t forget that you’re brothers,” he said. “You’re supposed to be a team. You’ll always have a better chance if you work together instead of against each other.”
And this comes back to them when there is a big problem at the video game competition. While they are at Fun World all the entrance money from the competition goes missing. The brothers decide to work together and try and use what they have heard from their father’s stories about his detective work, and solve the mystery.
Most of the story takes place at Fun World, and amusement center with multiple rooms and features. After the money goes missing the competition is on hold. And there is a lot happening. And the brothers find out that when they work together things do go better. For older readers they should be able to put the clues together and solve the mystery. Younger readers might miss the clues but will still love the story.
The story is fun. And we have already read this one twice and have plans to read many of the others in the series. Any book or series that my kids want to read again and keep reading is a win in my books.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
I first read this book to my son a few years ago. He loved it and we picked up several in the series. Now my son has just read this book to me, to get his reading time in for school. He made it through with help mostly on names. He really enjoyed the book and wants to read all 19 that are currently available in the series. It is very different than the Blue hard Cover Hardy Boys Mystery Stories I had when I was his age. But it was still a fun read.
The chapters in this volume are:
1 Alien Attack!
2 Fun World
3 A Major Score
4 Who’s the Thief?
5 A Big Threat
6 A Real Mystery
7 Who, What, When . . .
8 A New Suspect
9 Lost and Found
10 Secret File #1: Solved!
And from the books we have all the books in the series have 10 chapters. It is an interesting read. For my son they are new and exciting. The brothers are 8 and 9 years old in this book. The books have been scaled way back in complexity compared to the original series. But for younger readers, it will allow them to read the whole thing themselves. At the beginning of this stories the brothers are very competitive with each other. Teasing each other about the upcoming video game competition, and even making a bed about who will get to move into the renovated spare room. Their dad states:
“Anyway, don’t forget that you’re brothers,” he said. “You’re supposed to be a team. You’ll always have a better chance if you work together instead of against each other.”
And this comes back to them when there is a big problem at the video game competition. While they are at Fun World all the entrance money from the competition goes missing. The brothers decide to work together and try and use what they have heard from their father’s stories about his detective work, and solve the mystery.
Most of the story takes place at Fun World, and amusement center with multiple rooms and features. After the money goes missing the competition is on hold. And there is a lot happening. And the brothers find out that when they work together things do go better. For older readers they should be able to put the clues together and solve the mystery. Younger readers might miss the clues but will still love the story.
The story is fun. And we have already read this one twice and have plans to read many of the others in the series. Any book or series that my kids want to read again and keep reading is a win in my books.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
July 27, 2025
I picked this up at the dollar tree just for fun. It was just okay for what it was. I expected a little more. They have more of them and I may pick up another just to see if they improve at all.
October 1, 2019
Title: Trouble at the Arcade
Author: Franklin W. Dixon
Series: Hardy Boys: Secret Files, 1
Format: ebook
Length: 64 pages
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis: In Trouble at the Arcade, nine-year-old Frank and eight-year-old Joe Hardy discover trouble lurking at the local arcade and decide they make pretty good detectives—just like their dad!
Mini-review: Cute, easy read. Nice illustrations. Frank and Joe were adorable as kids.
Author: Franklin W. Dixon
Series: Hardy Boys: Secret Files, 1
Format: ebook
Length: 64 pages
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis: In Trouble at the Arcade, nine-year-old Frank and eight-year-old Joe Hardy discover trouble lurking at the local arcade and decide they make pretty good detectives—just like their dad!
Mini-review: Cute, easy read. Nice illustrations. Frank and Joe were adorable as kids.
July 19, 2010
This was our first hardy boys read (Michael read ahead some of the chapters on his own). As a huge Nancy Drew fan when I was about nine, it's fun to see my kids enjoying this genre.
We enjoyed the book... it reminds me of the great brain books... we'll have to try one of those soon.
We enjoyed the book... it reminds me of the great brain books... we'll have to try one of those soon.
March 19, 2011
I thought it was great!
Read
May 25, 2012"Dude" (age 6) is trying out this series...he's been looking for a chapter book series (besides MTH and Boxcar) that he can get into...hopefully this one will hit the spot!
May 18, 2013
A great introduction to the Hardy Boys had Frank and Joe when they were only 9 and 8 years old.
July 28, 2015
I like this book because i love mysteries.
October 30, 2024
so this is a cute little book that is a fast read if you looking for one..so the hardy boys Frank and Joe help solve a small crime at the newly re-opened Fun Arcade.. So someone steal the money that was for entering the Fun Arcade Tournament that the brothers entered into and unless the money is found Mr. Fun is shutting it down...so will the boys figrue it out and who will win the games read it to find out..great young person's story
July 30, 2025
I expected much more from this. As a child of the 80s and 90s, I expected, at the very least, a writer to know that arcade games don't accept tickets or spit out tickets. Mediocre mystery and rather unenjoyable characters. Not written at the same level as the comparable Nancy Drew & the Clue Crew kids' books, so apparently the Franklin W. Dixon conglomerate thinks little boys are stupider and simpler than girls? Meh.
December 3, 2019
This book is quite open, in terms of the audience, language, genre and also fits in my good read. Adventure and mystery is the main genre for this astonishing book. From my point of view, I really liked the sense of humour and the style of text. I would recommend this book before going to sleep since it is short, adventurous as i mentioned before and is generally a nice book to read.
January 11, 2024
For a kids book, it's very good. For an adult, it's very predictable. It's only 96 pages, so it will hold the attention of a little reader.
Why did I, an adult, read this book? Because I can. Just because it's for kids doesn't mean you can't read it. Besides, I like the original Hardy Boys mysteries, too.
Why did I, an adult, read this book? Because I can. Just because it's for kids doesn't mean you can't read it. Besides, I like the original Hardy Boys mysteries, too.
August 21, 2025
What surprised you? someone stole something author lee Roberts
Who was your favorite character (and why)?
Mike I like the main character Mike I like the main characters because they are usually the coolest and that was this case
Would you change the ending? Why/why not? Nothing I like the ending
What surprised you? that the guy who stole it was the owner's son
Who was your favorite character (and why)?
Mike I like the main character Mike I like the main characters because they are usually the coolest and that was this case
Would you change the ending? Why/why not? Nothing I like the ending
What surprised you? that the guy who stole it was the owner's son
December 15, 2017
Read this book out loud to my 5 year old daughter and my 3 (almost 4) year old son. It kept them engaged and every night they had conversations speculating “who done it” and why. It was a great beginning “chapter book” for them.
March 22, 2024
"Trouble at the Arcade" proves to be an engaging chapter book tailored for young readers seeking independent adventures. Readers join the Hardy Boys on their quest to unravel the arcade mystery, intertwined with an intriguing competition storyline.
March 12, 2018
This was a super cute edition the Hardy Boys canon
March 18, 2021
More teenagers should read books like this instead of sitting in front of their computers. Decent, funny, short position. Ideal for acquiring more vocabulary in foreign language.
Read
June 2, 2021It is good for children who like suspense and adventurous books
September 30, 2022
In Trouble at the Arcade, nine-year-old Frank and eight-year-old Joe Hardy discover trouble lurking at the local arcade and decide they make pretty good detectives, just like their dad!
May 3, 2023
A fun detective book for my son that doesn’t involve scary things! While he’s usually bored with books that aren’t graphic novels, he was engaged and wanted to read more to solve the mystery.
May 10, 2023
My 5 year old son enjoyed this!
June 1, 2023
Cute! Short! I need to read more books, so I've gone to my childrens/YA shelf of my unread books to get through a few quick!
August 14, 2023
Not bad. Not great either.
August 29, 2023
A fun little book that my children enjoyed as I read it to them at night.
March 19, 2024
Quick, easy & enjoyable read for those who like the Hardy Boys.
July 14, 2024
A fun update to a classic series. It was a solid mystery too. Bonus points for the comic at the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews