About the Author Under various pseudonyms, Andrew Svenson wrote more than 70 adventure and mystery novels for children, which were published in 17 languages and sold millions of copies.
“The trick in writing children’s books is to set up danger, mystery and excitement on page one…
then in the middle of each chapter, there’s a dramatic point of excitement, and at chapter’s end, a cliffhanger.“
— JERRY WEST, Author of The Happy Hollisters
PRESS RELEASE Media Contact: The Svenson Group, Inc.
Andy Svenson III, President
727-945-7024 support@TheHappyHollisters.com
After 50-year Absence, Classic Childrens’ Mystery Book Series The Happy Hollisters is Back in Print
TARPON SPRINGS, FL (December 3, 2019) — First published in August 1953, The Happy Hollisters by Jerry West was the best-selling book series in the U.S. for children in the 7-11 age group in the 1960s, with worldwide sales over 16,000,000 copies. More than one million boys and girls joined the Happy Hollisters Book Club. Many readers remained loyal fans of the 33-volume series through adulthood and became avid collectors, wistfully remembering the books’ wholesome quality and squeaky-clean fun. Now they can share the series with their children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces. The Svenson Group, Inc., on behalf of the Hollister Family Properties Trust, is pleased to announce that all 33 Happy Hollisters volumes have been reissued in trade paperback and digital formats.
Jerry West was a pseudonym for Andrew Svenson, a prolific author who wrote more than 70 books for children. As a partner in the Stratemeyer Syndicate, a book packaging company, Andrew Svenson wrote, outlined, and/or edited many volumes of the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Bobbsey Twins series, among others. The Stratemeyer Syndicate assigned pseudonyms to their series books so that more than one author could contribute, but Andrew Svenson was the sole creator and author of The Happy Hollisters. The five Hollister children were modeled on Svenson’s own family and their adventures growing up.
Andrew Svenson researched and traveled extensively, giving The Happy Hollisters books an educational aspect that is still appreciated by parents and teachers of public, charter, and homeschools alike. Children love that the mysteries are solved by the children themselves. Svenson said, “The trick in writing children’s books is to set up danger, mystery and excitement on page one. Force a kid to turn the page. Then, in the middle of each chapter there’s a dramatic point of excitement, and at chapter’s end, a cliffhanger.” It’s a formula that hasn’t gone out of style, and getting kids to read is more important now than ever.
A retro blast from the past, The Happy Hollisters by Jerry West are back. The 33 classic books, faithfully reproduced with original illustrations by Helen S. Hamilton, are available for sale at Amazon.com, IngramSpark, and via the official website at TheHappyHollisters.com
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE MERRY-GO-ROUND MYSTERY
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AT PONY HILL FARM
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE OLD CLIPPER SHIP
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AT LIZARD COVE
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE SCARECROW MYSTERY
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE MYSTERY OF THE TOTEM FACES
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE ICE CARNIVAL MYSTERY
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE MYSTERY IN SKYSCRAPER CITY
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE MYSTERY OF THE LITTLE MERMAID
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE MYSTERY AT MISSILE TOWN
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE COWBOY MYSTERY
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE HAUNTED HOUSE MYSTERY
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE SECRET OF THE LUCKY COINS
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE CASTLE ROCK MYSTERY
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE CUCKOO CLOCK MYSTERY
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE SWISS ECHO MYSTERY
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE SEA TURTLE MYSTERY
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE PUNCH AND JUDY MYSTERY
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE WHISTLE-PIG MYSTERY
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE GHOST HORSE MYSTERY
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE MYSTERY OF THE GOLDEN WITCH
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE MYSTERY OF THE MEXICAN IDOL
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE MONSTER MYSTERY
THE HAPPY HOLLISTERS AND THE MYSTERY OF THE MIDNIGHT TROLLS
Many of TheHappy Hollisters titles were also published in different languages including
French, German, Spanish, Catalan, Japanese Norwegian, Icelandic, and Portuguese!
About the Author
The Happy Hollisters by Jerry West was actually written by Andrew E. Svenson, a prolific yet somewhat anonymous writer of books for children. Jerry West was the pen name assigned to Svenson when he started writing The Happy Hollisters for the Stratemeyer Syndicate. The Stratemeyer Syndicate was a book packager, well-known for its development of children’s book series including Tom Swift, The Bobbsey Twins, The Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew. Many of these series were intended to have long publishing lives and were written by multiple authors using the same pseudonym. The Happy Hollisters, however, were all written by Andrew Svenson, whose identity as Jerry West was kept secret until several years after his death in 1975.
Andrew Svenson was born in Belleville, NJ, in 1910, and his interest in writing started early. He was editor of his high school newspaper and yearbook at Barringer High School in Newark, and then went on to study Creative Writing at the University of Pittsburgh. After his graduation in 1932, he worked as a reporter and editor for the Newark Star Eagle and the Newark Evening News. He also taught creative writing courses at Rutgers University and Upsala College.
Andrew Svenson was encouraged by his friend Howard Garis (author of Uncle Wiggily) to try his hand at juvenile fiction. He joined the Stratemeyer Syndicate as a writer in 1948, where he contributed to established series as Franklin W. Dixon (The Hardy Boys) and as Laura Lee Hope (The Bobbsey Twins). The first volume in his own original series, The Happy Hollisters, was published in 1953 by Doubleday & Company, and he was made a partner in the Stratemeyer Syndicate in 1961. As he wrote and developed 33 titles in The Happy Hollisters, he was also creating additional series for children under other pen names: Bret King by Dan Scott and The Tollivers by Alan Stone, one of the first series written about and for African American children.
Under various pseudonyms, Andrew Svenson wrote more than 70 adventure and mystery novels for children, which were published in 17 languages and sold millions of copies. The Hollister family was modeled on his own family and he often used actual Svenson family events and travels as the foundation for The Happy Hollisters books. He also kept copious newspaper clippings for story ideas, and interviewed hundreds of school children and teachers for additional suggestions. These ideas were then worked into his storylines, adding an educational element that was appreciated by parents and educators alike. The children loved the stories for their elements of danger and excitement geared to their comprehension level.
After his death in 1975, the Stratemeyer Syndicate assigned all rights to The Happy Hollisters to his widow, Marian Svenson; they subsequently became the property of The Hollister Family Properties Trust. The current publication/reissue was initiated by Andrew E. Svenson III, grandson of the author, on behalf of The Hollister Family Properties Trust.
Comments from Readers about The Happy Hollisters
Examples are a compilation from the guestbook of TheHappyHollisters.com (official fan website)
and from Amazon.com reviews.
“The Hollister family gave me a geography lesson like no school textbooks ever did. They showed me a world beyond my front yard that’s worth exploring. They helped my sister become the peacemaker she is today. They set standards of civility, responsibility and independence, qualities that continue to serve me as an adult. They turned me into a reader and a dreamer.
They allowed me to be part of their family in adventure after adventure, throughout unbearably hot southern summers. Yet, as long as there is a place for dreams, there will be a place for The Happy Hollisters on all children’s shelves.”
—Barbara, North Carolina
“I grew up reading The Happy Hollisters along with my brother and sisters . . . I teach third grade and read at least two Hollister books to my students per year. The books are just full of fun and adventure as well as teaching values such as kindness, honesty, and family togetherness . . .”
— John, Pennsylvania
“I have always loved these books. I would even go as far as to say these books shaped my life. They were the first books I read. I mean, really read. I hated to read, until I found my very first Happy Hollisters book. I can now say I have read all 33 books in the series and have the complete collection in my library. I could never have earned my doctorate or become a college professor if this series had not changed my mind about reading.”
–Jim
Images
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Front cover of volume 1 (1575 x 2400 pixels) – Download
