4 Reasons Why I think Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys helped shape family fiction
Were you one of those readers that got hooked on the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mystery series? It is important to understand what made those mysteries so accessible to us and here is why:
The Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy mystery stories drove home traditional family values with characters who were morally upstanding. (Quite the contrast to the majority of contemporary fiction.) Growing up I recognized that something about those series grabbed people in an extra powerful way. Interestingly, here are four areas where they differ from most contemporary fiction:
- Both series showed strong-willed characters who were passionate about helping people, including saving people in need.
- Nancy, Frank, and Joe treated their fathers with the greatest respect and had strong relationships with them.
- Nancy, Frank, and Joe chose friends who were responsible and motivated.
- They also LOVED to read and research.
We need more fiction like that. We need NEW fiction like that. Unfortunately the book industry leaders think they know better. I’ve been told that in order for young adult fiction to sell it needs to do much the opposite of these things. Specifically the adults must be inconvenient annoyances.
My response to this? What is the purpose of those books? As an author I want to motivate and inspire. But most publishers want to follow the trends. Well, I pray that God keeps some of us authors from doing that so that you, the reader, can be convicted, inspired, and motivated to uphold good family values.
Question: Do you think authors should cave to popular wisdom, or write the stories that encourage readers to stand for what is right?