| "It is doubtful whether a
more entertaining lot of boys ever appeared in a story than the 'Big Five,'
who figure in the pages of these volumes. From cover to cover the reader
will be thrilled and delighted with the accounts of their many
adventures." -- Burt advertisement,
The adventures of five young men from Ohio traveling around the country on their
motorcycles. The bikes were given to them by recluse Amos Tucker, whom they
had rescued from a flood. The five boys are Rod Bradley, the "natural
leader" who is every Boy Scout virtue personified; Elmer Overton, a
transplanted (and, um, unreconstructed) Southerner; Hanky Panky
Jucklin, an aspiring magician whose skills with ventriloquism often come in
handy when the boys are up against the inevitable series book scoundrels and
blackguards; Rooster Boggs, the klutz; and Josh Whitcomb, who is
temperamental and impulsive. The boys' adventures are fairly entertaining,
but the constant references to "worm-infested poor white trash",
Southern "crackers" and "pickaninnies" are very jarring
to a modern day reader.
The
Big Five Motorcycle Boys in Tennessee Wilds is available online.
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- THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS' SWIFT ROAD CHASE; or, Surprising the
Bank Robbers -- "It is doubtful whether a more entertaining
lot of boys ever before appeared in a story than the 'Big Five,' who
figure in the pages of this volume -- Red Bradley; 'Hanky Panky' Jucklin;
Josh Whitcomb; Elmer Overton; and last, but far from least, 'Rooster'
Boggs. From cover to cover the reader will be thrilled and delighted with
the accounts of how luckily they came by their motorcycles; and what
splendid use they make of the machines in recovering the funds of the
robbed Garland bank." -- 1914. A.L. Burt.
- THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS IN TENNESSEE WILDS; or, The Secret of
Walnut Ridge -- "In this story the boys with the 'flying
wheels' take a trip through Kentucky, and into Dixie Land. The wonderful
adventures, and amusing ones as well, that were their portion on this
glorious spin, have been set down by the author in a way that will be most
pleasing to the boy reader who delights in tales of action. There is not a
single dry chapter in the book; and when the end is finally reached, the
happy possessor will count himself lucky to have it handy in his library,
where, later on, he may read it over and over again." -- 1914. A.L. Burt. Read
it online!
- THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS THROUGH BY WIRELESS; or, A Strange
Message from the Air -- "Even in a quiet Ohio town remarkable
things may sometimes happen calculated to create the most intense
excitement. The five motorcycle boys were put in touch with just such an
event through a message that came to their wireless station while many
miles away from home. What the 'voice from the air' told them, and how
gallantly they responded to the call for action, you will be delighted to
learn in the third volume of this intensely interesting series." -- 1914.
A.L. Burt.
- THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS ON FLORIDA TRAILS; or, Adventures among
the Saw Palmetto Crackers -- "Once more, a kind fortune allows
Rod Bradley and his four 'happy-go-lucky' comrades a chance to visit new
fields. Down in the Land of Sunshine and Oranges the Motorcycle Boys
experience some of the most remarkable perils and adventures of their
whole career. The writer spent many years along the far-famed Indian
River, and he has drawn upon his vast knowledge of the country in
describing what befell the chums there. If there could be any choice, then
this book is certainly the best of the whole series; and you will put it
down with regret, only hoping to meet these favorite characters again in
new fields." -- 1914. A.L. Burt.
- THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS UNDER FIRE; or, With the Allies in
France -- 1915. A.L. Burt.
- THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS AT THE FRONT; or, Carrying Dispatches
through Belgium -- 1915. A.L. Burt.
- THE BIG FIVE MOTORCYCLE BOYS ON THE BATTLE LINE; or, With the Allies
in France -- 1916. A.L. Burt.
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