1. The Hardy Boys series first appeared in 1927. Why do you think these books still appeal to modern readers?

2. Are Frank and Joe Hardy similar to "average" boys? How are they different?

3. Discuss Aunt Gertrude's role in the Hardy household.

4. Many events in the Hardy Boys stories take place in abandoned houses or caves. What do these settings contribute to the atmosphere and plot of the books?

5. The brothers are high school students, but they are only occasionally seen in school. Is there a reason for this?

6. Two years after the Hardy Boys was launched as a series, the United States began to experience the hardships of the Great Depression. Can you find any evidences of or references to the Depression in those books published between 1929 and 1940?

7. When Leslie McFarlane says that the Hardy Boys were contrived for "wish fulfillment," what does he mean? Is...