Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions.
First introduced way back in 1904, The Bobbsey Twins Mystery Series rocked the world of juvenile literature with their suspense-filled tales. The series, chronicling the thrilling escapades of preteen twins Bert and Nan, and their younger counterparts Flossie and Freddie, rapidly gained popularity for its engaging storytelling and captivating conundrums. Seeing this success, the similar series 'The Outdoor Girls' was brought out in 1913, revolving around four adventurous girls and their exciting journeys. The author of The Bobbsey Twins is listed as Laura Lee Hope, whereas The Outdoor Girls books are said to have been written by Laura Lee Hope and her colleagues. Nevertheless, just like Franklin W. Dixon and Carolyn Keene, Laura Lee Hope doesn't exist. So, the question that arises is - who really wrote these bestseller children's books?
Similar to The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mystery books, The Bobbsey Twins and The Outdoor Girls series were produced through a mechanism known as ghostwriting. A ghostwriter, in this context, is given a comprehensive outline of a book, following which they flesh out the book. They are paid for their work but are not accredited as the author, indicating their names don't appear on the published books.
The Bobbsey Twins and The Outdoor Girls books were conceptualized by Edward Stratemeyer, who headed the Stratemeyer Syndicate. Witnessing the growing interests in mystery stories, he deduced that children would take delight in reading mysteries solved by characters of their age. Stratemeyer initially designed an outline for each book, detailing the plot and setting. After the plot was sketched, he employed a ghostwriter who expanded his outline into a full-length book. The process involved multiple rounds of revisions based on Stratemeyer's feedback until he was satisfied with the final version, post which the book was sent for publication.
Due to the series' extended duration, multiple ghostwriters were employed, with Howard R. Garis starting as the first ghostwriter for The Bobbsey Twins, and Julia K. Duncan penning the initial Outdoor Girls books. Garis and Duncan, though guided by pre-developed skeletons, were the primary constructors of the characters and the variety of plots. For instance, much like Nancy Drew's love for athletics, Bert and Nan Bobbsey's adventurous spirits were developed from Garis's personal penchant for outdoor activities.
While the Bobbsey Twins and The Outdoor Girls were esteemed by young readers across the nation, they had their share of critics. The series' detractors were discomforted by the sensationalized plots involving young children and the method of book creation as well. Some educators and librarians disapproved of the ghostwriting process, which they felt was targeted at mass production of books rather than creating quality works. Many libraries, including some with significant influence, initially declined to house these books in their collection.
Despite the controversies surrounding their literary quality, their imprint on society, especially the developing juvenile literature canon, is immeasurable.