Clarence Young

Clarence Young was a house pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate, the book-packaging operation founded by Edward Stratemeyer. Instead of pointing to one individual author, the name appeared on a range of adventure books for boys published in the early 1900s.

The pseudonym is most closely linked with the Motor Boys series, and it was also used for other series including Jack Ranger and The Racer Boys. Sources on the Syndicate note that Edward Stratemeyer used the name for some stories and that other Syndicate writers contributed as well; Howard R. Garis is credited with writing many, and possibly most, of the Motor Boys books.

That shared authorship is part of what makes Clarence Young interesting today. The name represents the Stratemeyer system at work: energetic plotting, recurring heroes, and dependable adventure produced for young readers who eagerly followed one volume after another.