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March 21, 2010I read this book about 30 years ago. It had something to do with a few boys who discovered an "old" club that some other boys had founded years earlier. They had to follow certain tasks to find out how to join the club. They made spears out of broom handles, made masks and some other stuff I can’t quite remember. It had instructions on how to make these things as well. It turns out in the end that the boys father’s were the original founders of the club. It was about a third grade reading level, maybe about 25-30 pages long. I got it from the school’s book fair. That’s about all I remember.
This is definitely THE SECRET HIDE-OUT by John Peterson, 1965, 1998.
From wikipedia: "The book was an adventure story about two brothers, Matt and Sam Burns, who discover the log book of the Viking Club, a kind of junior secret society of boys from a generation or so earlier. While Sam wants to skip the log’s details and go straight to look for their old meeting place (the Secret Hide-Out), Matt wants to see if they can first pass the club’s membership tests, as they are explained, and be "worthy" of going as prospective members… if the Hide-Out still exists. Another local boy called Beany joins them in their quest… and as it turns out, an original Viking Club member who learns of their plan prepares to meet them.
"While the book didn’t include the complete "original" Viking Club log, it did include enough details and illustrations to show how such a club would initiate new members, and a style for presentation and decorum. A section in the back gave full instructions on making regalia for club members, including masks, whistles, shields and (dull-pointed) spears. These could be easily made by the book’s target audience, with mostly household materials, a bushel-basket lid being the hardest item to obtain."
Also, you might be interested to know that there was a sequel, ENEMIES OF THE SECRET HIDE-OUT.
You can buy a copy (with new cover artwork) at amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0590413538/24680e-20
or one with the old cover: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0590001191/24680e-20
Horaayy..there are 2 comment(s) for me so far ;)
Sounds almost like the Lord of the Flies
References :
This is definitely THE SECRET HIDE-OUT by John Peterson, 1965, 1998.
From wikipedia: "The book was an adventure story about two brothers, Matt and Sam Burns, who discover the log book of the Viking Club, a kind of junior secret society of boys from a generation or so earlier. While Sam wants to skip the log’s details and go straight to look for their old meeting place (the Secret Hide-Out), Matt wants to see if they can first pass the club’s membership tests, as they are explained, and be "worthy" of going as prospective members… if the Hide-Out still exists. Another local boy called Beany joins them in their quest… and as it turns out, an original Viking Club member who learns of their plan prepares to meet them.
"While the book didn’t include the complete "original" Viking Club log, it did include enough details and illustrations to show how such a club would initiate new members, and a style for presentation and decorum. A section in the back gave full instructions on making regalia for club members, including masks, whistles, shields and (dull-pointed) spears. These could be easily made by the book’s target audience, with mostly household materials, a bushel-basket lid being the hardest item to obtain."
Also, you might be interested to know that there was a sequel, ENEMIES OF THE SECRET HIDE-OUT.
You can buy a copy (with new cover artwork) at amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0590413538/24680e-20
or one with the old cover: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0590001191/24680e-20
References :
Personal knowledge and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Hide-Out