The Mystery on the Ice

The Boxcar Children Special #1

by Gertrude Chandler Warner, Charles Tang (Illustrations)

The Aldens have an adventure right in Greenfield. It all starts with some special news from Cousins Joe and Alice. Then a figure skating troupe comes to town—and a blizzard, too! Not long afterward, a house nearby is burglarized, and the evidence seems to point to the skaters. Once again, the Boxcar Children find themselves investigating a mystery!

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Juvenile, Family

118 pages, Kindle Edition

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

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This takes place in the winter sometime after the new year. The story involves figure skating, hockey, stolen jewelry, a party, and a new relative. The mystery was interesting, but I preferred the sports parts of the story. The story also has a little bit of romance.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this installment of the boxcar children series the kids are looking for a robber who stole a towns persons jewelry. As an adult reading this book it was just ok. I only read the first book as a kid and I did like it. I wish I had read more of them as a kid, I definitely wouldn’t appreciated them more.

[Makenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book to people that like mysteries, snow and skaters. It's an awesome book! ENJOY!

[Emily D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such wholesome fun! The Boxcar Children is a perfect, timeless series that introduces school-age kids to the exciting world of reading mysteries. I love that my 8-year-old and 6-year-old and I could enjoy this one together. My daughter especially loved Jessie and Violet and my son laughed and cheered with Benny throughout the story. As a parent (and also simply as a reader enjoying the characters), I like that the Boxcar Children show cleverness, responsibility, empathy, kindness, and impeccable manners, along with a sense of humor.

[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. I like how there is more than one possible suspect, who each have reasonable motive. Would recommend.

[Jishnu Thakkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite character was Benny cause he loves to eat like me

nothing surprised me

i would not change the ending

[Mark Rabideau · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 6 year old grandson and I just completed this mystery. He thought this was a splendid tale. Opa (I) enjoyed reading it to him. To quote my grandson: "I hope you will like it, too."

[Elena Gussman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will the BoxCar children solve this mystery once again?

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

The boxcar children help solve theft

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book that my dear teacher Ms Scherfranz dedicated to my daughter at least 27 years ago!!! So fun to read with my grands again!

[Brooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this to my daughter. She's really into Boxcar Children.

[Rebecca]

One of my favorite childhood series. I read all the books I could get my hands on :)

This Special comes between books #40 The Canoe Trip Mystery and #41 The Mystery of the Hidden Beach. I did not know this, and was quite surprised that the children had a new relative in Hidden Beach. This book does more explaining behind it.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was OK as far as the Box Car Children go. There is a troupe of ice skaters and it is pretty obvious who the thief is right from the start. I think this one was way too obvious in that aspect, even for kids. Teddy got a better role than normal and played a nice part in the sleuthing. There are some recipes and puzzles in the back that I think my niece will enjoy.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book okay.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have fond memories of snuggling up my mom, listening to her read this series to us.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

great when ur little

[Amyem]

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2...

[Rachel]

Good. Very exciting and thrilling. Applies to all age groups.

[Laura Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Boxcar children chase down another thief in this mystery which adds the fun element of ice skaters. This one is more predictable than most, but still a positive, fun read.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like this book because they sove a mystery wick is cool.

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite part was hwen the mystery was solved. The jewels were on the costume of the girl that faked a broken leg.

[Katie salvucci]

Mystery on the ice

Not good to have thieves that can steal. Very interesting book though.
I'd give it a 3.7 rating
I'd like my friends to read it

[Karina]

Definatly not as good as the first Boxcar Children book

[Caroline]

so far it's good