The Mystery of the Secret Message

The Boxcar Children #55

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

A photograph of the statue of a Revolutionary War hero contains a secret message.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Juvenile, Chapter Books, Classics, Audiobook

121 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

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

[Janete on hiatus due health issues · Rating 5 out of 5]

My book + Scribd audio.
Synopsis: "The Aldens are helping their grandfather organize Greenfield's Winter Festival. When the Boxcar Children get a roll of photos developed, they find a secret message hidden in one of them. They are baffled, and things become even more mysterious when they realize that someone is trying to ruin the Winter Festival by tearing down the decorations and stealing a local statue! There must be a connection between the message and everything that is going wrong. Can the Boxcar Children figure out what it is in time to save the Festival?"

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Mystery of the Secret Message," part of "The Boxcar Children" series by Gertrude Chandler Warner, is a delightful read for young mystery lovers. In this book, the Alden children find themselves on a new adventure, exploring a hidden beach and uncovering secrets.

The writing style is straightforward, making it easy for young readers to follow along. The Alden children's resourcefulness and teamwork shine as they solve the mystery, highlighting the importance of family and cooperation. The plot is engaging, with enough twists to keep readers interested without being too complex.

Overall, "The Mystery of the Secret Message" is a charming addition to "The Boxcar Children" series, perfect for kids who enjoy a classic, gentle mystery.

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 55 of the Boxcar Children. A mystery right in Greenfield who would have guessed. Shadowy figures, ransacked items, vandalized statues. What are the Alden children to do. And all of this right before a big celebration. Can the children solve the mystery in time? The series continues to entertain. ​

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com

[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.

[Jeremiah L Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The statue got stolen unbelievable

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciate that good family values are encouraged in the Boxcar Children. The siblings work together and look out for each other. I enjoyed this one, even as an adult.

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was intriguing with the photography aspect.

[Sue Babovec · Rating 3 out of 5]

another fun book to read to Calvin via the phone

[Laurie D'ghent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just right. Nothing inappropriate. Good mystery. Easy read.

[Isabel Sasine · Rating 5 out of 5]

audible

[Gabby Proxmire · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mystery of the Secret Message
Gertrude Chandler Warner

In this book Benny, Violet, Jessie and Henry all find a picture with a secret message in it. They go through all the people in the town and try to figure out who's it is. And they try to figure out who the picture was meant for. While they are doing this the town is having a fair. In the fair they are going to take a vote on where they should place this big statue. There is this one shop owner who tries to keep the statue in front of her store so she steals it with the help of some friends.

This book is exciting when the kids are being followed by someone and they have to figure out who it is. Also it is exciting when they find out who stole the statue and why they stole the statue. This book is good for middle schoolers. This is because there are some hard words but it is also no that long of a book to read. You should read this book if you like mysteries and try to solve mysteries.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like it. It shows how to send secret messages.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were lots of suspicious people and there were three main people plus the boxcar children. It was really, really fun.

[Alisse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that the Mystery of the message was alright. It wasn't as good as some of the other Boxcar Children Mystery's, but I liked it.

[WSL Library]

X2

[Tyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another boxcar children book. They are all pretty similar, but Alex loves them. They are about good kids which I really like.

[Engi Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery Rock's

I consider this a good book.. This was a great statue and festival saving mystery..!!! YAHOO!YIPPY! This was perfectoe!!! YAY!!!

[Rebecca]

One of my favorite childhood series. I read over a hundred of them. The first 50 or so were in order; after that I read whatever book I could get my hands on :)

[Allison McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery of the secret message

Henry,Jessie,violet,and Benny have a mystery to solve. Who wrecked the decorations? Who stole the statue? Find out in this mystery!

[Linda Klinedinst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good...I just love this entire series and I would highly recommend the Boxcar Children's Mystery Series.

I give this book 5/5 Stars here on Goodreads.