author
May Hollis Barton
A house name of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, this byline appeared on brisk, mystery-tinged stories for young readers in the 1920s and 1930s. The books mix school life, friendship, and old-house secrets in the fast-moving style that made series fiction so popular.
3 Audiobooks
Three girl chums at Laurel Hall : or, The mystery of the school by the lake
by May Hollis Barton
Two girls and a mystery : or, The old house in the glen
by May Hollis Barton
Plain Jane and pretty Betty : or, The girl who won out
by May Hollis Barton
About the author
May Hollis Barton was not a single, publicly identified author but a pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate, the book-packaging company behind many classic American children's series. That means the name belongs to the Syndicate's tradition of shared pen names rather than to one easily documented personal life.
Books published under this name include titles such as The Girl from the Country; or, Laura Mayford's City Experiences, Plain Jane and Pretty Betty, Three Girl Chums at Laurel Hall, and Two Girls and a Mystery. These stories were written for young readers and often blended friendship, school adventures, and light mystery.
Because May Hollis Barton was a house pseudonym, reliable biographical details about a real individual author are limited. What can be said with confidence is that the name is linked to the lively world of early 20th-century girls' series books, where suspense, independence, and adventure kept readers turning pages.