Customer Reviews

Footprints Under the Window (Hardy Boys, Book 12)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The original published in 1933 was the last of the great originals as I define them. The book focused heavily on the title which I liked and presented a fairly good mystery although the ending was not that great (last Chapter). Overall however this was not a bad book, The plot flowed along nicely throughout the early chapters and there were some fairly humerous parts to the book. The Revision I never liked. Much too modern.

Orginal: Rated B Revision: Rated C-

I like this book because it's really good in the beginning, and terribly good at the end. It's been some time since I read this one, but the plot and action is outstanding on every page. This was my second book, and every part of it was good, but I can't remember most of it. But I reccomend that you read this book for terrific, page-turning action.

I reread this original 1933 version of "Footprints Under the Window" and really enjoyed it. The book was later revised in 1965 with a completely different story line. I know I read this book as a kid but I didn't remember anything about it. This is one of the notorious Hardy Boys books (along with Mark on the Door and Hidden Harbor) that includes language bordering on racism. And yes, the book is full of "pidgin English" and the Chinese characters are referred to as "Chinamen" but I'm sure that was reflective of a lot of literature of the 1930s. The plot has to do with the smuggling of Chinese into the US because of restrictions on Chinese immigration at the time. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 suspended Chinese immigration and was not repealed until 1943. I know Leslie McFarlane is credited with authoring this book; however, the style seems quite different from some of the earlier books he wrote. But overall, I thought the story was more adult than some of the other volumes. This could have been written by Sax Rohmer, author of the Fu Manchu stories. The Chinese smuggling premise was probably a real occurrence at that time. There was also some humor thrown in - some related to Riley the cop and some dialog on page 116 that could have come out of an Abbot and Costello routine. Cally Shaw and Iola Morton were trying to find out the name of a disguised Chinese dressed as a girl. His name was Tom Wat so when they asked Joe her name, he said "Wat." Of course they heard this as "What" and a dialog reminiscent of "Who's on First" ensues. There were a few things in the book that were more than coincidental and the person who left the Footprints under the window turned out to be someone (I won't give who this is away) who's feet were probably bigger than a size six as measured by the boys. Also, although I love the Gretta cover, the scene where the Chinese are fighting on the dock was not witnessed by the Hardy Boys as shown on the cover. Overall though, I would give this one about an 8 out of 10.

This book is good for kids. The Hardy Boys protect an ultra-secret camera from spies. It's a classic.

This review is for the Applewood 1930's text reprint. This story is probably not for the young, it should be read with the understanding that it was written in the 1930's. It is a decent mystery, but if you are offended by Charlie Chan movies you will want to read the revised re-written version from Grosset & Dunlap.

Sneaking around, discovering what other teens or adults were up to, solving crimes, ahh, I loved this series.
I read the entire series as a kid, and loved it. It chronicles two brothers and their friends adventures as they solve mysteries of all imaginable kinds. I only learned as an adult that Franklin W Dixon was a pen name used by several different authors, but the series had some great stories. I still enjoy a good mystery.

Paul Buckner,

author of "From Broke to Broker, and other stories of finding financial freedom."

One of the books I read that Grampa bought me was Footprints Under the Window. I enjoyed it very much. It was about the Hardy's and Chet having to find a machine that the bad people took. They also had to try to find out who left the footprints under the window but, it turns out that Mr. Fenton Hardy was the one who left the footprints under the window. Mr. Hardy is the father of Frank and Joe also known as the Hardy's. Fenton had to be very quiet while sneaking the house to get some papers because no one could know that he was there. The Hardy's thought that the papers were stolen. Brianna Rose 8 1/2

...on the ceiling?

The original Depression-era version of this book was much better than this revision. "Micro-Eye" is just not Rooseveltian, in my estimation.

Anyway, the rewritten version has the boys overtly trespassing on what would today be heavily protected against terrorist attack. There is no motion detection, infrared video surveillance or spring gun set up at Micro Eye, much to Frank and Joe's benefit.

Do they catch the bad guys? Yes, they sure do. My only remaining question was one of payability of their fee from the view of Micro Eye - are they protected by child labor laws in an innately hazardous environment??

Ever wonder what it would be like to have a father that was a secret agent? Well the Hardy brothers, Joe and Frank, do. In Footprints Under the Window, written by Franklin W. Dixon, the Hard brothers are getting mixed up in tons of mystery. Their father has left on a top secret mission, and Micro-Eye has something top secret under development. This is when the setting takes place, when the Hardy brothers help to save the Micro-Eye project from being discovered and/or stolen! They get mixed up in even bigger things than they knew when they took on this case because now they are being chased by machete men, being offered rewards for the capture of a fugitive, and not to mention all the trouble they will get into later on in the book.

I was a bit confused with this book, being the first Hardy boys' book that I read, but I managed to figure it out. That is what I find is a true trait in a good book. I loved the mystery because of how they could keep you guessing, but what you guessed was sometime correct. I find that this book can be confusing because of how they never really describe the setting that well, and I really don't know where half the places are in the world. The twists are so amazing that I would have never seen it coming, and I was surprised at the dialogue in this book. I would recommend it for any first time mystery readers, but if you have read many mystery books that you can probably see what is coming.
By Alex Shung

I acuttally don't own yhis book, I borowed it from a library. It's a very,very fun book. In the end there trapped in a sinking ship (just like in The Hidden Harbor Mystery.) I think Danger on Vampire trale is much funner. This book is about people who are trying to steal Micro Eye's secret device,the bad guys have a secret hideout in an old tomb. I recommend this book for mystery lovers!