I never read Judy Bolton as a child, but I have heard many people talk about her and collecting her books, so I thought I would see what they were raving about. Judy is a little bit different than other girls' mystery series in that she grows up and is concerned about social issues along with solving the mystery. I first read The Haunted Attic, since attics intrigue me (hence the name of the newsletter Biblioholics produces). After being a little bit lost for a while (that's what I get for coming in after the beginning of the series), I settled down and really enjoyed Judy. I really enjoy The Haunted Attic and will now have to go out and find the rest.
Applewood Books has reissued the first two of the original books, reviving interest in Margaret Sutton's books. Between 1932 and 1967 Sutton wrote 38 titles in this successful girls' series.
Many of the events in the books were based on reality, such as the flood.
My series began with the story of the Austin flood which I told to my stepdaughter and fictionalized so it wouldn't be o sad. Actually, nearly 100 people lost their lives in 1911 when the big dam broke and flooded the town of Austin, Pennsylvania. My family lived three miles above the dam.
The house with the round attic windows (the haunted house), the invisible chimes' hiding place, the school fire, the camp in the Thousand Islands, the old house in Parkville and the panic in the theater were also real.
Most books state that any resemblance to a real person is coincidental. Sutton, however, laughs about that people she knew often worked their way into her books, not always in a positive light.
...many of the characters were based on family members and friends. A rude neighbor or unfriendly sales person might become a jewel thief or a kidnapper in the books!
1. The Vanishing Shadow 1932, 1964
2. The
Haunted Attic 1932, 1968
3. The Invisible Chimes
1932, 1968
4. Seven Strange Clues 1932, 1968
5.
The Ghost Parade 1933
6. The Yellow Phantom
1933
7. The Mystic Ball 1934
8.
The Voice in the Suitcase 1935
9. The Mysterious Half Cat
1936
10. The Riddle of the Double Ring 1937
11. The
Unfinished House 1938
12. The Midnight Visitor
1939
13. The Name on the Bracelet 1940
14. The
Clue in the Patchwork Quilt 1941
15. The Mark on the Mirror
1942
16. The Secret of the Barred Window 1943
17. The
Rainbow Riddle 1946
18. The Living Portrait
1947
19. The Secret of the Musical Tree 1948
20. The
Warning on the Window 1949
21. The Clue in the Stone Lantern
1950
22. The Spirit of Fog Island 1951
23. The Black
Cat's Clue 1952
24. The Forbidden Chest 1953
(The Forbidden Box)
25. The Haunted Road 1954
26.
The Clue in the Ruined Castle 1955
27. The Trail of the Green
Doll 1956
28. The Haunted Fountain 1957 (The Enchanted
Fountain)
29. The Clue of the Broken Wing 1958
30. The
Phantom Friend 1959
31. The Discovery at Dragon's Mouth
1960
32. The Whispered Watchword 1961
33. The Secret
Quest 1962
34. The Puzzle in the Pond 1963
35.
The Hidden Clue 1964
36. The Pledge of the Twin
Knights 1965 (The Pledge of the Black Knights)
37. The Search for
the Glowing Hand 1966
38. The Secret of the Sand Castle 1967
The first four books were printed again with revised stories.
In 1968
the first four were also printed as paperbacks.
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