The Secret Seven by Enid Blyton is an exemplary example of how to use childhood sleuthing as a theme in children’s literature. The story combines elements of mystery and childlike imagination in its telling. In short, there are many aspects of the plot that demonstrate what children find most enjoyable: keeping secrets, devising plans, and enjoying resolving the outcome of a finished mystery.
The children’s innocence and intelligence through their actions lead them to a true-life mystery, where they, too, will have grown up to have had a real-life experience in mischief, but at the time of this story’s first being published in 1952, it was written in a much less safe world than the one we live in today. Were you aware that readers of this book will have grown up into readers of the Secret Seven series? The children are brave, yet not reckless; intelligent, yet still children.
The skill of Blyton’s greatest trick: developing pace. By using short chapters, swift scenes, and a buildup of tension through small but believable details—a quiet secret code, torchlight seen through the fog, and the hooting of an owl where there should be none—Blyton gives young readers the sensory anchors that will draw them into the story and keep adults chuckling at how well this book has grasped the logic of play and peril. By incorporating tidbits of information like “six-two” or “seven-ten,” railway sidings, or overheard fog signals, Blyton empowers readers to act as detectives, assembling pieces of evidence to track the Seven.
As for characters, Blyton has created an appealing, compact cast. The leadership of Peter, the sensible nature of Janet, the impulsive loyalty of Jack, the intelligence of Colin, and the practicality of the girls create a believable micro society, with each character having an essential function. Scamper the dog is a comic relief, a practical protector, and an emotional center for the group. The interaction with the Famous Five establishes an amusing competitive brother-sister relationship among the protagonists, and allows Blyton to examine the consequences of mischief; Susie’s practical joke provides the spark for a real adventure.
Modern readers find enjoyment in Blyton’s work for two reasons: Out of nostalgia for an easier, gentler time when they were able to roam free and explore outdoors; and an element of surprise in how she takes many of her everyday objects (badges, shed doors, pinecones) and uses them as an architectural construct for suspense. The writing style is deceptively straightforward—for a reason—making her stories accessible to beginning young readers, while also providing a nice, easy-to-understand version of events for those that read her books aloud to children.
Although somewhat dated, Blyton’s world is very much mid-century, with the social mores, gender expectations, and social niceties that she portrays accurately reflecting the time in which they were written. When read with this knowledge in mind, her books serve as effective conversation starters about the history of childhood and its evolution, rather than being viewed as outdated relics that require defense or consideration for boycotting due to their antiquated nature.
In summary: Secret Seven is an enjoyable, well-made detective fiction book for kids. It has an engaging story, has great characters and settings, and has been written to appeal to kids. Whether your child reads Secret Seven for the first time or the 100th time, they will still experience that incredible feeling of make-believe turning into reality, where courage is determined not by physical size but by the size of one’s heart and the teamwork displayed by all players in a game.
