The Yellow Feather Mystery (Hardy Boys, Book 33) [Hardcover]

Franklin W. Dixon (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

In trying to trace a missing will, detectives Frank and Joe Hardy trap a dangerous criminal who is willing to risk all--including murder--for money.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap (January 1, 1954)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0448089335
• ISBN-13: 978-0448089331
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( D ) > Dixon, Franklin W.
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Series > Mystery & Detective > Hardy Boys

More About the Author

Franklin W. Dixon is the pen name used by a variety of different authors (Leslie McFarlane, a Canadian author being the first) who wrote The Hardy Boys novels.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Who (or What) is Yellow Feather, September 6, 2005

By 

Lonnie E. Holder "The Review's the Thing" (Columbus, Indiana, United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Yellow Feather Mystery (Hardy Boys, Book 33) (Hardcover)

"The Yellow Feather Mystery" begins when Frank and Joe Hardy meet Greg Woodson at their boathouse. Greg wants the Hardy boys' help in searching for his grandfather's will, which is missing. Greg expected to inherit Woodson Academy, but his grandfather's unexpected death in combination with the missing will has left his inheritance in doubt. Part of the confusion comes from Henry Kurt, who is the temporary headmaster of Woodson Academy. Kurt insists that he will inherit Woodson Academy.

The boys agree to help Greg, and visit Woodson Academy, where the soon run into difficulties with Benny Tass. It often seems that every time the boys run into problems with their investigation that Bennie is involved. The boys later discover that there is some kind of relationship between Tass and Kurt, though they have yet to discover what that relationship is.

As the boys continue their investigation into the mystery of the will, they soon encounter evidence that someone else is searching for the will. That someone goes by the name of the Yellow Feather! Just who is the Yellow Feather? Greg Woodson's grandfather had promised to tell him about the Yellow Feather, but died before he could pass the information along. In spite of Frank and Joe's usual care, they are knocked unconscious without warning more than once in this story. Clearly their enemies are playing for keeps! As the tension in this story mounts, the Hardy boys are sealed inside a huge snow fort with no way to escape.

As usual, Chet Morton is instrumental in this tale. This time Chet has a unique sort of air propelled snowmobile. Frank and Joe use this unique device when their car is disabled. Chet also helps rescue the Hardys from the snow fort and serves as the temporary cook for Woodson Academy. Whatever would the Hardys do without Chet?

There are some interesting places in this book. However, I struggled to keep interested in this story. The pacing is a bit slow in some places and the story of Yellow Feather had little appeal to me. When the true nature of Yellow Feather was finally revealed I think I was relieved that the story was nearly over. While I am glad that I read the story, this story is one of my least favorite Hardy Boys stories. I will recommend it to hardcore Hardy Boys fans, but if you are looking for a place to start reading the series, I recommend you start with the beginning of the series.

The Hardy Boys series is recommended for ages 8 to 12 because the series is relatively tame for the previous target audience of ages 10 to 14. This particular book is a good fit for that age range. Earlier books in the series have more noticeable social differences, but this book seems to be reasonably modern. It could be that the 1971 re-write modified some of the bigger social differences. It may also be that the re-write made the story less interesting than the original. However, a collector of the series will want this book regardless of the faults.

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than You'd Expect!, January 20, 2003

By 

Scott Thiel (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Yellow Feather Mystery (Hardy Boys, Book 33) (Hardcover)

Published in 1953 - This was one of the first books painted by Ruddi Nappi. The Hardys live at Woodston College and try to help their friend solve the mystery of The Yellow Feather thought to be a dangerous character stalking their friend. William Dougherty the author of this book wrote only two HB books. The Secret of Wildcat Swamp and this one. Upon learning that fact I realized why this book was as good as it was. A pitty that Dougherty did not write more than he did. Many parallels can be seen between the two. I think of the Chapter in Wildcat Swamp "Three Odd Letters" when it is discovered that Wildcatters were buried in the swamp and not Wildcat. In Yellow Feather we learn minor was mistaken for miner - which leads to the conclusion that the Yellow Feather was not a young man - but a mine in Canada. We are kept in suspense throughout the book as to the identity of The Yellow Feather and as to the true intentions of Kurt the Headmaster at the College. Hardy Boys books were never "scary". But the scene around page 110 where Joe is walking alone outside a cabin back in the woods when he hears a rustling in the trees makes my spine tingle every time I read it. Only scene I can think of that has that Stephen King element about it. Very well written. Overall this was one really fantastic book, a brilliant detailed cover art drawn by Nappi. After this volume the series declined. RATED A-

4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Mystery, January 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Yellow Feather Mystery (Hardy Boys, Book 33) (Hardcover)

This review concerns the original 1953 edition as well as the revised 1971 edition, which is a shortened version of the original. Greg Woodson, the grandson of the recently deceased owner of Woodson Academy, Mr. Hardy's old school, asks Frank and Joe to locate his grandfather's missing will which would prove that Greg is the rightful heir to the academy. However, a crook, who uses a yellow feather as his symbol is trying to stop them. Frank and Joe must find out who or what the Yellow Feather really is. This mystery reminded me of a Nancy Drew mystery, although, for those that aren't a fan of that series, don't let that discourage you from reading this book because it was actually rather good, despite having only one criminal. The book was well written and had a fair bit of action. I think most Hardy Boys fans would enjoy this one.