The Pizza Mystery

The Boxcar Children #33

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Who is trying to force Piccolos' Pizzeria to close its doors, and why? Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are helping out at a pizzeria that is run by their old friends, the Piccolos who have been having lots of troubles keeping their business going. Working at the little restaurant is lots of fun but the children wonder is someone deliberately trying to shut down the Piccolos' Pizzeria?

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Audiobook, Juvenile

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Gertrude Chandler Warner was born in Putnam, Connecticut, on April 16, 1890, to Edgar and Jane Warner. Her family included a sister, Frances, and a brother, John. From the age of five, she dreamed of becoming an author. She wrote stories for her Grandfather Carpenter, and each Christmas she gave him one of these stories as a gift. Today, Ms. Warner is best remembered as the author of THE BOXCAR CHILDREN MYSTERIES.

As a child, Gertrude enjoyed many of the things that girls enjoy today. She loved furnishing a dollhouse with handmade furniture and she liked to read. Her favorite book was ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Often on Sundays after church, Gertrude enjoyed trips to visit her grandparents' farm. Along the way, she and Frances would stop to pick the wildflowers they both loved. Gertrude's favorite flower was the violet.

Her family was a very musical one. They were able to have a family orchestra, and Gertrude enjoyed playing the cello. Her father had brought her one from New York ---a cello, a bow, a case and an instruction book. All together, he paid $14. Later, as an adult, she began playing the pipe organ and sometimes substituted for the church organist.

Due to ill health, Ms. Warner never finished high school. She left in the middle of her second year and studied with a tutor. Then, in 1918, when teachers were called to serve in World War I, the school board asked her to teach first grade. She had forty children in the morning and forty more in the afternoon. Ms. Warner wrote, "I was asked or begged to take this job because I taught Sunday School. But believe me, day school is nothing like Sunday School, and I sure learned by doing --- I taught in that same room for 32 years, retiring at 60 to have more time to write." Eventually, Ms. Warner attended Yale, where she took several teacher training courses.

Once when she was sick and had to stay home from teaching, she thought up the story about the Boxcar Children. It was inspired by her childhood dreams. As a child, she had spent hours watching the trains go by near her family's home. Sometimes she could look through the window of a caboose and see a small stove, a little table, cracked cups with no saucers, and a tin coffee pot boiling away on the stove. The sight had fascinated her and made her dream about how much fun it would be to live and keep house in a boxcar or caboose. She read the story to her classes and rewrote it many times so the words were easy to understand. Some of her pupils spoke other languages at home and were just learning English. THE BOXCAR CHILDREN gave them a fun story that was easy to read.

Ms. Warner once wrote for her fans, "Perhaps you know that the original BOXCAR CHILDREN. . . raised a storm of protest from librarians who thought the children were having too good a time without any parental control! That is exactly why children like it! Most of my own childhood exploits, such as living in a freight car, received very little cooperation from my parents."

Though the story of THE BOXCAR CHILDREN went through some changes after it was first written, the version that we are familiar with today was originally published in 1942 by Scott Foresman. Today, Albert Whitman & Company publishes this first classic story as well as the next eighteen Alden children adventures that were written by Ms. Warner.

Gertrude Chandler Warner died in 1979 at the age of 89 after a full life as a teacher, author, and volunteer for the American Red Cross and other charitable organizations. After her death, Albert Whitman & Company continued to receive mail from children across the country asking for more adventures about Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny Alden. In 1991, Albert Whitman added to THE BOXCAR CHILDREN MYSTERIES so that today's children can enjoy many more adventures about this independent and caring group of children.

Books about Gertrude: https://www.goodreads.com/characters/...

Reviews

[Karis · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books were my childhood go to books as a kid, the ones that sparked my imagination and love for a good story, the ones that encouraged me to be creative and work hard. The Aldens were my dream second set of siblings—Henry, hardworking, dependable, and industrious; Jessie, organized, caring, practical; Violet, sweet, kind, and full of sympathy; and Benny, outgoing, honest, and funny.

And now as a young adult, looking back I see why I was so enamored with them and especially with The Pizza Mystery, easily in my top 5 favorite Boxcar Children books. I love family arcs in stories, and what better example is this family who together tackle mysteries and take on helping people as they do throughout the series. These books model what a family should be like encouraging and being there for each other, and what young people should be to a community, pitching in and making a difference, and to adults in showing them the proper respect.

I get hungry every time I read this book and simply savor the feel and hominess. Yes, I can see reading this now at 18 that some of the events are a little improbable, but I’m so grateful for this book and the others in the series which so shaped my mind and heart for the better as kid and created in me a love for family-centered books and good themes and values in the literature I read.

A great re-read and a reminder of why I loved this series so much as a kid.

(As a side note about the series: The original author died in 1979, leaving the series at book #19. I love those early ones the most in a lot of ways as she originally let the characters grow older and secondary characters would play roles in multiple books. I do appreciate the early ghostwriters that took over and feel as if they did an excellent job at still staying true to the heart of the books—this book being a great example. But I would be wary of reading the newest ones [the ones in the high numbers like 60 and up] because I know they’ve been modernized and just aren’t the same. )

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was totally taken in and stressed out by this mystery and wouldn’t let my son listen to it without me 🤣

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read-aloud to first and second graders.

Doesn't have the intrigue and pacing of the first book, but it will make you hungry for pizza! A solid series that's definitely enjoyable for the intended age group. These books are simple and formulaic, but the sibling dynamics, interesting settings, and independent problem solving make them highly satisfying for students who are just getting into chapter books. I read tons of these as a young reader, and the kids I teach still love them today.

[quinnster · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are some very industrious little kids!

There was mystery aplenty and many suspects to choose from. The kids never gave up and had a solution for everything even when the adults were ready to give up! I can see why kids love these books! Fun, mysterious and how can you not love a book about pizza?!

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. It's the one I like least, so far. The story involves pizza, a broken gas line, a new company, and a new employee. The story is almost all selling and making pizza. The mysteries are secondary, but I didn't like them, so I didn't mind.

[Jessica Woodring · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one had food (and it’s even in the title)! 4 stars, BUT I’m grading this one on a curve since it’s my favorite so far and since my five year old has loved all the others and we’ve given those 3 stars.

The Boxcar Children save a mom and pop pizza business that’s having hard times due to “big business” shenanigans. You’d think it would be a rival chain pizza business, however, it’s a muffler factory. 🤷‍♀️

The kids are more than happy to help the elderly couple during what is presumably their Christmas break…and Grandpa is more than happy to drop them off to have a kid-free couple of weeks.

The real mystery here is how the pizza business ever managed in the first place before the Boxcar Children arrived to save the day. My daughter and I were happy to see that the villain had consequences in this one because he was VERY villainous…like, repeatedly calling and asking if their refrigerator was running so he could tie up the phone lines so no one else could call in any orders and making fake coupons for children under 12 to get a free soda when they purchase a pizza!

But for real, these books are starting to grow on me.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best boxcar children books I have ever read. I highly recommend this series!

[V. Arrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comeuppance for the baddie! Finally! Actual consequences!

Also, I vividly remembered reading this as a kid. The cover lives in my heart.

[Erin Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Piccolo family must be peopled with saints. I wouldn't be as tolerant and forgiving as they had been, not just with the saboteurs and the shenanigans, but with the people that were supposed to be loyal to them but were so wishy-washy. And I'm a little baffled as to why Grandfather Alden would let his grandchildren stay with the random elderly owners of a pizza shop they sometimes frequented. Ehh, little bit reaching. I wish the Alden children had flaws and weren't so accepting and perfect all the time. (And no, Benny thinking with his stomach first and foremost doesn't count.)

[Linda Klinedinst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dearly love this Mystery. This is Book #33 I think it is in the Boxcar Children's Mystery Series. I dearly love this series. I give this book 5/5 Stars here on Goodreads. I highly recommend this series to anybody.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son loved this book. Unfortunately, I did not agree and was mentally celebrating as I finished reading it to him. :) I do appreciate how much he likes it, so I figure that averages out to 3 stars.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why, but this was a book that we (my brother, more specifically) owned. And I say I don't know why, because it was the single only Boxcar Children book that we owned, and thus it was the single only Boxcar Children book that I've read.

So, having read only the thirty-third book in the series, I do feel like I missed out on some things. First of all, I felt like there was no characterization. The Alden kids were all interchangeable, they had no defining personalities, and I wouldn't even be able to tell you which of the girls was who. (The only reason I can remember the boys is because Benny was the baby and Henry was the oldest. But they still didn't have any personality.) Also, everyone talks about how they were good old friends with the pizza employees, but all I can assume is that they met these people in an earlier book?

It was a very simple read, with not too much to the mystery. Probably good for kids just getting into reading chapter books, or a read-aloud for younger grades. I read it for nostalgia's sake and probably will never read it again, though I would read the first book.

Also, reading this book really made me want pizza.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic and well acclaimed series, recommended as a great series for young readers. The Boxcar Children invoke the enjoyment for mystery-solving and having a close relationship with family.

The mysteries are certainly twinged with a bit more danger now, and you can tell that other authors are penning the stories. They still make for excellent adventures and problem solving. These books keep to the classic focus of the original 19 stories and have heart and family values and helping others as a forefront in every story.

The children are all oh-so-friendly to each other and those they meet. They seem to agree about mostly everything; their world seems to be made of butterflies and rainbows. The times of this book being written to present day are vastly different.

[Atticus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a family who helps at their friend's pizza restaurant and then finds out that someone is trying to shut it down.
One reason I love this book is because it's my favorite series.
Another reason I love this book is because I really like how they explain everything.
My favorite character is Henry because he does the delivering of the pizzas on his bike and he's the oldest and he's very kind.
One of my favorite parts in the story is when they deliver a pizza to the person who is trying to shut the restaurant down and he ends up liking it.
You should read this book if you like pizza or mysteries.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

On their way home from a trip, the Aldens stop at their favorite Pizzaria, but find it nearly empty. All sorts of problems have arisen. Grandfather leaves them their to help cook and serve, and they investigate what could be causing the problems. Is it the newly hired woman who is very secretive? Is it the former server who keeps calling in sick? Is it connected with the big factory next door? Of course the children will solve the mysteries.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

My kids enjoy listening to these books and it kept them entertained in the car while driving in Italy (and eating a lot of pizza). I have a hard time with this series. I love the original book, but with so many books in the series they are all pretty much the same with very simple plot. Fine for early readers.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun dual mystery which will leave you hungry and wanting to order pizza immediately!

Not only do the kids help our old friends get their pizza business back up and running, the manage to solve two mysteries surround a new factory in town and a mysterious customer who becomes an employee.

Time for lunch now!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because I like pizza and restaurants. I also just like mysteries and The Boxcar Children. My favorite chapter was close to the end, where they took a surprise pizza to the factory manager. This is the review of my six year old daughter. Let me just say I’m really glad that she requests these books and will sit for hours to listen to me read them to her. Precious moments.

[Cherish Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4☆ Would recommend)
I loved these books as a kid & I'm really enjoying reading through the series again. I liked the mystery & the suspense. One thing that kept coming to my mind while reading was: can they come help me get my life together? I like how they set up the stories with more than one possible suspect. Would recommend.

[Crissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these as a kid and finding so many out there that were done after I moved on or that I just hadn't ran across in our little library. Now finding many of them as audiobooks to listen to while I workout or crochet.
Still love them, especially the older ones.

[Kelly]

The most obnoxious thing about this book is the idea that 4 children have better ideas to fix a failing business than the owners of 30 years. Also all the times the children found someone suspicious and the owners “too trusting” and ended up being wrong but never admitting it.

[Rebekah F · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to go back a read a couple books from my childhood. This series was one of my favorites for quite some time. Even now, this was a fun, short read with creative descriptions, enjoyable characters, and plot twists. :)

[Amy Roebuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope teachers, parents and friends are still finding Boxcar Children books for their young folk--I've loved them since Grade 2, and hope others can enjoy the independence, the mutual support and the mysteries these kids experience!

[Jennifer Brogdon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened along with my son while we were driving to wrestling. This is the version narrated by Aimee Lilly, and the kids’ voices, especially Benny’s, are way overdone and highly irritating. It was hard to listen to. My son didn’t seem to care and liked the story.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boxcar Children jump right in and help their favorite pizza place because you know... MYSTERY! They find the jerks and save the day.

[Horizon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have to make pizza with the kids when we read this one.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kids enjoyed this, although I found it a bit tedious. The dynamic between the kids is ideal and sweet and the book is so totally clean! The mystery did surprise us a little bit.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't resist picking this up out of my local little free library. I LOVED the boxcar children books as a child. Nice flashback to happier times.

[BefuddledPanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always good to be back with the Aldens

[Erika]

Read to my class at their request. I loved these books as a kid, but they're not my favorite as an adult.