Hopping Mad [Paperback]

InHopping Mad, the boys have to figure out a way to stop their school talent show from being ruined—by raining frogs! Let the sleuthing begin!Franklin W. Dixon is the author of the ever-popular Hardy Boys books.

Scott Burroughs started his career at Disney and has illustrated everything from children’s books to advertisements and editorials. He is also the published author of several children’s books. He lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife and sons.Hopping Mad

1
Prepare to Die

Frank and Joe Hardy stood facing each other on an empty cliffside. Beneath them the ocean crashed and roared. In their hands each brother held a sharp metal sword. For a long minute they stared at each other. Suddenly, Joe screamed.

“AHHHHHHH!”

He came running at Frank, sword held high in the air! At the last moment, right as Joe swung his sword at his brother’s head, Frank dove to theground. He did a perfect front roll and rose to his feet gracefully, out of Joe’s reach. Joe’s sword hit only air, and he stumbled. Frank took advantage of Joe’s momentary loss of balance and swung a vicious cut right at Joe’s stomach. Joe managed to get his sword up, just barely in time to block his brother’s blow.



They battled back and forth across the cliff. The only sound was the huffing and puffing of their breath, and the loud clash of metal on metal. Sometimes Joe seemed to have forced Frank into a corner, but at the last minute Frank would execute a daring escape. Other times Joe seemed almost at thepoint of surrendering, only to come back with a powerful slice at Frank. Finally, after a round of cuts so fast the eye could barely follow, Joe had Frank disarmed and pressed up againl-