I can’t think of much you could do for a kid that would be nicer than going on abebooks or another old book site and digging up a copy of The Adventures of the Black Hand Gang by Hans Jurgen Press…
This book is another one I ordered from the Scholastic brochure circa third grade. What a wise investment. While other kids got stuck with a copy of Dynamite, I had this little treasure to savor again and again and again.
The Black Hand Gang is a group of kids (and a squirrel) who solve mysteries. But the reader gets to solve them too, searching and re-searching the richly detailed, yet cartoony European illustrations for clues.
My one lasting regret is that the first time I read the book I raced through it in feverish excitement. Missing a few clues. If only I had slowed down. Then I might have gotten a perfect score. I think I missed three out of 60. I still haven’t forgiven myself neary 30 years later.
I reread the book many many times, but after the first time it becomes too eady to spot the clues. I can glance at a picture now and still recall some idea of each clue from way back in my brain. Man, I spent so much time with this little paperback.
How much did me and my friends love this book? Just look at this picture…
http://www.qwikpick.com/mystery.html
It’s proof that the Qwikpick Adventure Society and the Black Hand Gang are somehow linked…
Filed under: book review, kidlit
[...] Being a sharp-eyed Black Hander I immediately see the resemblance to the BELOVED “Adventures of the Black Hand Gang.” [...]
A recent family lost has my curiosity going. I have been trying to find the title of this great book I read a child.
I will buy this book soon.
I read the Black Hand Gang in 4th grade and have been searching for it in 2nd hand book shops for years, with no success. Hopefully one day I’ll stumble across it. I’d love to read it again. And it’s great to learn that other people around the world loved the book just as much as I did.
Keep checking AbeBooks for affordable copies of The Blackhand Gang.
And check bookstores this spring/summer for “Get a Clue” a new series by the son of the original artist.