The Mystery of the Stolen Boxcar

The Boxcar Children #49

by Gertrude Chandler Warner, Charles Tang (Illustrator)

Someone steals the newly refurbished boxcar the Aldens are going to ride at the Greenfield Founder's Day Parade, they only have a couple of days to find it before the event.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure, Audiobook, Juvenile

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1995

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 4 out of 5]

Another light, easy, fast, and entertaining children book to pass the time, forget life's difficulties, and improve my English skills.

Synopsis: "Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny used to live alone in a boxcar. Now they have a home with their grandfather, and they're fixing up their boxcar so they can ride it in the big Greenfield Founder's Day parade. There's just one problem: Someone has stolen the boxcar . . . with their dog, Watch, in it! If only they can find the missing boxcar, it will lead them to Watch. Can the Boxcar Children solve their most important mystery ever?"

[Jeremiah L Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one day so I would read it

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that they had so many suspects that sometimes they thought one wasn't it.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

great when ur little

[Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good to see the actual boxcar get some more acknowledgement, since it usually only gets a glancing mention.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read with the kiddies. They wanted to finish it today and we had lots of fun talking about who could have done it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The children are excited about the Founder's Day parade in Greenfield. They decide they will dress like engineers, and Grandfather will pull the boxcar with his truck. So they begin a major cleanup, inside and outside, including new paint. Of course their dog Watch is 'helping' too. Two different men come by and offer to buy the boxcar for their train collections, but of course the children say NO. One of the men is apparently allergic to dogs, because he keeps sneezing. After they finish, they can relax for a few days before the parade. One day Benny gets worried because Watch hasn't eaten his breakfast, so he goes out looking for him and discovers that the boxcar is also missing! Someone has taken their boxcar, possibly with Watch inside it, since they have no luck finding Watch either. There are several suspects, including a very spoiled little girl who throws a tantrum because she wants it for a playhouse, and even their friend Sam, the ice cream man, whose wagon has been all smashed up. Of course all eventually ends well, and their friend Sam, who is still working on getting his wagon fixed, ends up having his horse pull the boxcar in the parade.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Mystery of the Stolen Boxcar," 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 Stolen Boxcar" 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 49 of the Boxcar Children. This time it is personal. Someone has stolen the boxcar and the Aldens need to figure out who. Loved this one. Lots of red herrings and a perfect conclusion leads to a great story and this one nailed it. This is in the top 10 for the series and for good reason. This is one in the series I would say not to miss. ​

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’ve listened to so many of these audiobooks, but this one’s one of my favorites. It’s just so silly. There are like four different people trying to buy the boxcar all of a sudden, the rich people live on Mansion Road, and the narrator really goes for it when reading the spoiled brat’s lines

[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.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kiddos have absolutely loved listening to these books on Libby!

[Charles Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

72%

Wow they actually called the police

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mystery got really personal this time when someone stole the boxcar...and their dog! Another fun read.

[Ashley Ardans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for what it is. Would probably read to eight or nine year olds. Cute little mystery, though it doesn't hold a candle to Nancy Drew.

[Partridge Public]

Warner, Gertrude c. PB

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

..

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a long time ago. But, I still remember it. I really like the four characters, and their knowledge and use of clues to solve the mystery that revolves around their boxcar.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

THIS IS A DECENT BOOK BUT MAKES N"O ATTEMPT TO MAKE A HOOK AT THE BEGINNING

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had an idea of whole stole the boxcar, but how it came to happen was a mystery to me and, nlike the previous two mysteries I have read, the perpetrator was brought to justice.

[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 :)

[Caleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked it

[Jocelyn Montalvo Cullum]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14138280

[Anish · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was cool and was mystery.