The Yellow House Mystery

The Boxcar Children #3

by Gertrude Chandler Warner, Mary Gehr (Illustrator)

Four brave siblings were searching for a home – and found a life of adventure! Join the Boxcar Children as they investigate the mystery of the yellow house in the third book in this illustrated chapter book series beloved by generations of readers.

A mystery surrounds the old yellow house on Surprise Island! Years ago, a man vanished from the house, and no one knows how or why. Now a long-lost clue leads the Aldens to investigate the mystery—and to a new adventure!

What started as a single story about the Alden Children has delighted readers for generations and sold more than 80 million books worldwide. Featuring timeless adventures, mystery, and suspense, The Boxcar Children® series continues to inspire children to learn, question, imagine, and grow.

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

191 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1952

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

[Kaitlin Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to start a new series and call it “Boxcar Therapy” where the Boxcar children are in their 30s and Violet confronts her crippling anxiety, Henry deals with his bisexual tendencies, Benny is married and expects his wife to treat him like his family did and they’re in therapy cause he’s a spoiled little jerk, and Jessie deals with the depression she’s carrying from always having to be the responsible one.

I can see them sitting on the couch, Violet with a cigarette in her hand, blowing out the smoke and saying “every time I look at pine needles. I can’t handle it. Who sleeps on pine needles? Why does that make the ground more comfortable?” I too find that very confusing, Violet

I’m also not sure why everything said is “cried” or “shouted”. Can’t we just reply, ask or wonder? It leads me to envision these four kids constantly screaming at each other, which can’t help Violets anxiety.

It’s also probably more a reflection on me that I expected the dude they found to be a serial killer and he either died while “sleeping” in the back of Joes car or wakes up and runs them off the road.

Harsh critique aside. These are childhood classics and I’m so pleased they exist. There’s a simplicity to the rhythm that’s charming and while the kids are sacrine and one demintilnual it’s actually quite nice to escape into that world.

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing my slow reread of this series and although it's definitely a super simplistic read as an adult, it's unintentionally hilarious enough to make up for it. In this third volume the kids find YET ANOTHER estranged person associated with their family [I guess points because it's not actually a relative this time]. Honestly they've gotta knock this off soon because even their mansion can only hold so many people ;)

I did find this a bit more interesting than the first two books, although it does follow the same basic premise for the most part. There is actually a lot less focus on food in this one, although it's definitely still an ongoing theme. At least they eat 'normal' food for the most part here, although there was a part where they got super excited over an ENTIRE CHICKEN IN A CAN [gross???] and the many mentions of 'dried eggs' made me shudder a bit because I don't know exactly how that works but again ...sounds really gross. It's interesting I guess from a historical perspective because it just keeps leaving me wondering if kids in the 50s were super obsessed with food or if maybe this is a personal after-effect of hers from living through the depression etc?

Another thing that is kind of a disconnect between how people probably read this in the past and how it comes across today is the family's money situation. I mean there's this kind of weird disconnect where it's like they're always trying to portray them as like 'oh we're gonna go camping and we're roughing it and we're making blanket rolls to carry our clothes but also we're going to go buy literally all new camping supplies even though we surely have some old stuff because we've been camping before'. Definitely a weird series to read as an adult but as a kid I didn't notice any of this stuff so it's an interesting thing to revisit.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took all of 45 min to read.

[Rachel Detsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fulfilled my lifelong dream of reading my favorite Boxcar Children book to my child ❤️

[Theresa Abney · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the eff, Bill?

Bill is possibly one of the dumbest characters ever to have been written and let me tell you why.

1. He lends his sketchy brother his boss's money without any explanation about what will be done with it. Then he fails to make clear arrangements for how he will get the money back, so when his brother dies unexpectedly, he doesn't know where to find the money.
2. In an attempt to get the money from Bill, the sketchy brother's equally sketchy friends tell him that his wife has died in a fire. Instead of investigating whether it's true, he just blindly accepts that she's dead. **Spoiler Alert: She's not.**
3. Instead of going back to his kind boss/family friend and explaining the situation and, I don't know, confirming if his wife is alive, BIll decides to become a hermit and mourn his not-actually-dead wife.

What a tool.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, or as Benny said so often in this book, Ho-hum. Though he misused what in my experience has always been an indicator of boredom. It was okay, but odd.

1. I don't know too many six-year-old boys who can't wait for a wedding, unless it's for the cake. Particularly Benny, particularly in the 1950s. They would see it as torture, having to bathe and dress up and be on best behaviour.

2. How many newlyweds rush off to spend two weeks in a barn? Particularly a barn whose only sleeping arrangements are piles of scratchy straw.

3. Violet reminds Benny that the newlyweds aren't necessarily going to want the kids around all the time, even though they all live in the same house. Benny blithely replies that the kids should make up a list of activities and get the new couple to come along with them, then! Grandpa laughs and says it's a good idea. I'm sure.

4. The couple comes back with a bran-spankin-new stationwagon (1950s status symbol par excellence) and it is taken as read that they bought it so they can haul their little cousins around everywhere they go.

5. The family is so wealthy they don't bother to take camping stuff and supplies along; oh no, they just buy it all at the overpriced camping store on the lake, and the bride's reaction to having to buy it all a second time is, "What fun!" However they do sew up the kids' blankets into bedrolls because, you know, Violet mustn't be uncomfortable! Sod little Benny, it's okay if he and the others get pneumonia, but we must look after our shrinking Violet. This doesn't stop them making beds of pine boughs this time--can you imagine anything more uncomfortable to sleep on?--and living on diluted canned milk and potatoes for a couple of days.

In the end of course it all comes out right and they continue to throw money and houses around like it's nothing. A weird bunch.

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The children go on a trip with the surprise man from Surprise Island and his wife and find ANOTHER person from their grandfather's past, which also is a surprise for another person in the Boxcar series.

[Cameron Sheffield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meh

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a bit more satisfying than book 2, but I wanted a bit more mystery.

[Octavia Cade · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the hell. Poor kind old Mrs. MacGregor, the housekeeper to all these children, used to be married to a thief, who ran off to do thieving things and left her alone for 40 odd years, never knowing if he were dead or alive. It turns out hubby has been living as a hermit, having stupidly swallowed a cock and bull story that his wife was dead (and even more stupidly failing to check, because the source of his info was criminal and vicious and oh, so trustworthy!). Four meddling children reunite them, and this is supposed to be a happy ending?!

All I can think is Mrs. MacGregor, who has missed out on her life and any potential family, has been screwed over but good.

[Singalongalong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are YA books & memory lane my new guilty escape? Meh.

This time an escape into a canoe and cabin in Maine. Though the setting felt more woods in current New Hampshire. I was imagining Lonesome Lake. Love the sketches in this one.

Wish I could find the first book in the series.

[Jaycie Self · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm trying so hard to enjoy these books as I read them with my second grader. She loves them, but great literature they are not. Definitely age appropriate for her, but I wish there was a little more substance to draw me in.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story...but weird illustrations.

[Danielle McGregor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great audiobook for kids 4-10!
Easy to follow, adventure.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sweet story. I love this adventure with their cousin and new wife. I didn't remember this mystery, even though I know I had read it before. Probably when I was eight or nine.

I still love this series, even though I'm adult and the story telling is simplistic.

[Chandler Penn]

Enjoyed reading this to our son

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Boxcar Children discover the mystery of the yellow house on Surprise Island.

Listened on audio with my 7yo.

[Emily]

Summer read aloud #1 done. Myla’s pick!

[Dexter · Rating 4 out of 5]

good addition to the Alden lore

[Sam Kuntz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Yellow House Mystery is about how the Boxcar Children find out how a man named Bill Macgregor vanishes in the summer. They find a note that says to go to Bare Trail to find 'THE MONEY ' as the book said. They go to Bare Trail and they find a man who lives in the woods. He is called Dave Hunter. They have to find 'THE MONEY' and Bill. Maybe Dave Hunter is Bill Macgregor.
You have to read the book to find out what happens.

[Jessica Woodring · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, the only reason I’m giving it 3 stars is because my daughter loved it. Classic miscommunication trope resulting in spouses being kept apart from each other for 40 years 😬🤦‍♀️and reunited thanks to the sleuthing skills of the “boxcar children.” Oh and there was a wedding. And food. Always food talk in these books - mostly bread, butter, fish, and potatoes. I can’t wait to see what they eat in the next book.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boxcar Children are trying to solve a 40 year old mystery that takes them from Surprise Island all the way up to Maine on a rugged and amazing camping trip.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the descriptions of camping. And thought that the book as a whole came to a really satisfying conclusion. Great series!

[Christine Hwang · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Yellow House Mystery is the first book in the Boxcar Mystery series to have a real mystery and is one my favorites. Readers will enjoy this fun quick read with a wonderful canoeing/camping adventure mixed in with the mystery. It is a great introduction to the mystery genre for young readers.

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite Boxcar Children, but I love the kids together.

[Cadee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I like the that Mrs. McGregor and Bill found each other again." -Cadee, age 6

[Lindsay Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite Boxcar Children book as a kid because of the mystery and the journey in canoes. It’s much better than the second one, and my kids enjoyed listening to it in the car.

[Kaotic · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I would say.

This one was better than the previous books. There was an actual mystery this time that the kids set out to solve.

It still bothers me how chipper and overly polite everyone is in these books. It's over done to the point of annoyance, they don't feel like real characters.

But this one was much better done than the other volumes, actual story, and I feel the writing is a little improved.

[Amy]

These books make no sense but my 7 year old loves them. This one involves finding a hermit in the woods and restoring him to the good graces of the community. All in a day’s work for 4 orphan children with no memory of the past or their parents and no discernible daily schedule (are any of them in school? No one knows.)

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This takes place in the summer on Connecticut and Maine. It begins where the previous book left off. The children and their cousin and his wife spend a week in Maine looking for a missing person. They camp, fish, canoe, and cook.

[Kyle Leeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 star rating for Boxcar Children from both of my kids. My son says, “all of these books have cool mysteries and I love mysteries. That’s why I give 5 stars”
My daughter says that she “loves that these books always end so happy and they solve all of the mysteries”