As we wrap up our deep dive into young adult thrillers month, we would be remiss to neglect the history of the genre. Where exactly did the young adult thriller come from?
The short version? Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. Young adult thrillers began with these two series.
It’s impossible to talk about the history of the young adult thriller without talking about these two series. The Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys books were among the first young adult thrillers to be published for a mass audience.
So how exactly did they open the door for young adult thrillers? And how can we trace their influence to modern young adult thrillers?
Let’s put on our detective hats and get started.
The Birth of the Young Adult Thriller Genre
First published in 1927, The Tower Treasure was the first novel in the Hardy Boys series, and it effectively laid the groundwork for the young adult thriller. Make no mistake, the genre of young adult thriller was born with The Hardy Boys, and three years later with Nancy Drew.
The Hardy Boys was first conceived of in 1926 by publisher Edward Stratemeyer, who had in turn been inspired by the works of writers like Horatio Alger. Stratemeyer had published numerous books under his own name, many of which were aimed at children and young readers.
These stories, particularly his Rover Boys series, were concerned with young protagonists who became tangled up in mischief, pranks, and eventual mysteries. While these novels sold well between the years of 1899 and 1926, Stratemeyer knew he could do better.
His ambition and business acumen led him to reconsider his approach, so he shifted strategies. He created the characters of Frank and Joe Hardy in an attempt to appeal to slightly older adolescent readers. Stratemeyer also hired ghostwriters to create the Hardy Boys novels, which tradition persisted for the nearly eighty-year run of the series’ publication.
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Needless to say, this strategy worked, and The Hardy Boys novels were a runaway hit.
In 1930, the character of Nancy Drew was introduced in an attempt to appeal more to female readers.
The structure of the stories was the same in both series: a young teenage protagonist is tasked with solving a mystery, often with elements of suspense, red herrings, and clues.
The Evolution of the Series
The Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series both began as very similar books. They featured intelligent, curious, brave, and resourceful teenage protagonists. Readers found them to be aspirational role models and were endeared by their imperfections. (In particular, Nancy Drew served as an immense inspiration to generations of girls. Most recently, she was cited by Diarra from Detroit creator Diarra Kilpatrick as a massive influence on her BET Plus series!)
Additionally, the novels often followed a similar, even formulaic, plot: the protagonists would learn of a mystery and, through the use of clues and investigations, would solve the case.
These stories often existed alongside the relatable teenage experiences and obligations of characters like Nancy, balancing danger and mystery with the mundanity of everyday life. This combination meant that readers could easily put themselves into the shoes of the protagonists.
The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, however, were not without their problems. Throughout the 1950s, the novels were revised. The character of Nancy Drew was made more demure to appeal to changing societal norms about the roles of girls. The Hardy Boys novels were also edited in an attempt to tone down racist stereotypes.
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As the twentieth century continued, these series were again updated to include older characters and more mature themes in order to appeal to older audiences. Nonetheless, the core conceit of these novels remained: that of teenage detectives uncovering the truth about a danger-shrouded mystery. The series was adapted for television and even video games (the latest Nancy Drew game just dropped in May, and it’s amazing).
Most importantly, the unprecedented success of these two series signaled to publishers the demand for mystery stories directed to adolescent readers, setting the stage for a slew of other young adult thriller novels to follow.
Echoes of Influence on Modern Young Adult Thrillers
Now that we’ve covered the origin of both The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, as well as their transformation through time, let’s turn to their impact and influence on modern young adult thrillers.
The basic answer is: that their influence is everywhere, as these two series singlehandedly created the genre.
The basic formula first popularized by Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys has been adopted and adapted by countless young adult thriller writers, most notably in series like Pretty Little Liars, which revolves around a group of teenage friends seeking to uncover the identity of an anonymous person only known as A. (This series is absolutely one of our favorite psychological thrillers for young adults.)
Additionally, the serial nature of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series proved to publishers the appeal of long-term stories with recurring protagonists, a pattern which continues with series like Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (which series adaptation has finally made its way to Netflix. Yay!).
Many young adult thriller authors have also cited these novels as an influence, including masters of the genre R.L. Stine and Lois Duncan. (Whose books, if you’re a millennial like me, you definitely grew up reading!)
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The Legacy of Teen Detectives: Shaping YA Thrillers
The Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series paved the way for the young adult thriller genre by creating straightforward plot conventions and introducing clever, relatable teenage protagonists responsible for using clues to solve mysteries. As time progressed, the series evolved to appeal to older readers and reflect more mature and socially relevant themes. The influence of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys echoes through contemporary series that follow the same characters over multiple books.
And, to state the obvious: if you’ve never picked up a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys novel, this is the perfect time to start.
Happy reading!
