The Mystery in the Mall

The Boxcar Children #72

by Aimee Lilly (Narrator), Aimee Lilly (Narrator)

The Aldens are helping out at Penny’s Emporium, a novelty shop in the mall. But soon, everything starts to go wrong! Merchandise disappears, and doors start locking mysteriously. What’s going on at the Hope Harbor Mall?

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

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Aimee Lilly has been involved in radio drama and recording work since 1989. Aimee has recorded audio books by many best-selling authors. She portrayed Hattie Durham in the Dramatic Audio Version of the best-selling Left Behind series, and was part of the dramatic, multi-voice recording of the New Living Translation. She has played nurses, mothers, teachers, teenagers, reporters, chambermaids, a puzzle piece, a Bitsy Smoochums doll, and even a piece of fruit - but Liz is her first reptile. Aimee and her husband Scott live in the northern suburbs of Chicago.

Reviews

[Janete on hiatus due health issues · Rating 3 out of 5]

December, 2022: re-read this book with the aid of Google Translator.
July, 2020: 3,5 stars. My book + Scribd audio. Continuing my Project Learning English by my self through children's books. I learned new words, idioms, and phrasal verbs; but this book's end was ridiculous, unsatisfactory, and rushed.

SYNOPSIS: "The Aldens are helping out at Penny's Emporium, a novelty shop in the mall. But soon, everything starts to go wrong! Merchandise disappears, and doors start locking mysteriously. What's going on at the Hope Harbor Mall?"

[Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure that readers can relate with the main characters in these books. It could partly be because this is the first book of this series that I've read (to help one of my sons with his book report). But really, how many six year olds does anyone know who just shrugs off their older sibling losing their favorite toy? And how many kids of any age actually feel like working is more fun than simply goofing off? I have known a few teenagers that have said they feel that way, but never have I heard a six or ten year old say that. My guess is that the author hopes to instill hardworking values in her reader's, and I definitely find that commendable, but I wonder if more might take those lessons to heart if the characters were more relatable?

Anyway, with that all aside, I do feel that this book in the series does make for a decent children's mystery book. Some of the conclusion seems a little too far fetched, but my son seemed to enjoy it and even got a little caught up in the story while reading it.

I was going to give it only two stars, but since my son enjoyed it so much, I think three is certainly in order.

[Mrs. Bahns · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book someone is taking thing from the mall.The Aldens try to find out who.

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This didn't seem like much of a mystery to me. I didn't like it very much.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

best out of all

[Allyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

i did not see the coconut monkey thing coming.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Mystery in the Mall" by Gertrude Chandler Warner offers a charming blend of intrigue and warmth, perfect for young readers. The Alden children find themselves amidst a series of puzzling events while assisting at Penny's Emporium, a quirky novelty shop in Hope Harbor Mall.

Henry, the eldest, continues to be the responsible and level-headed leader, using his practical skills to solve problems. His flaw lies in his tendency to overthink, sometimes missing the obvious. Jessie, with her nurturing nature, focuses on the people around her, noticing subtle emotional cues that others miss. Her compassion, however, can make her hesitant to suspect anyone, even when the evidence points to them. Violet, the artistic soul, observes the world with a keen eye for detail, spotting clues hidden in plain sight. Her shyness sometimes prevents her from sharing her insights, making her observations a hidden asset. Benny, the youngest, brings boundless enthusiasm and a knack for uncovering vital information through his innocent questions and explorations. His impulsiveness occasionally leads him into trouble, but his genuine curiosity is invaluable.

The mystery centers around a series of mishaps at the mall, from misplaced items to strange occurrences, creating an atmosphere of unease. The tone of the novel is light and engaging, balancing suspense with the heartwarming camaraderie of the Alden family. The plot twists are gentle, suitable for younger readers, maintaining a sense of anticipation without being overly complex. The Alden's relationships are the heart of the story, their unwavering support for one another driving the plot forward as they work together to unravel the mystery.

Several subplots and secondary characters enrich the narrative. Penny, the owner of the novelty shop, adds a layer of personal investment to the mystery. Her livelihood is at stake, and her interactions with the children highlight her vulnerability and resilience. The other shopkeepers in the mall also play significant roles, each with their own secrets and motivations, adding depth to the story. Their involvement underscores the theme of community, showing how interconnected everyone is in Hope Harbor Mall.

One of the central themes is the importance of family and teamwork. The Alden children rely on each other's strengths, compensating for individual weaknesses. This theme is reinforced through their interactions with other characters, demonstrating that cooperation can overcome adversity. Another prominent theme is the value of honesty and integrity. As the children investigate the mystery, they encounter situations where people are not truthful, emphasizing the importance of trust and ethical behavior. The book also explores the theme of perseverance. Despite facing setbacks and challenges, the Aldens never give up, illustrating the power of determination in achieving their goals.

In closing, "The Mystery in the Mall" is a delightful read that combines suspense with heartwarming family dynamics. For readers who enjoy this book, I recommend "The Secret of the Old Clock" by Carolyn Keene, which features a similar blend of mystery and adventure.

[Kelli Trusedell · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son and I love listening to the Boxcar Children audiobooks while driving to and from activities, trying to solve the mysteries the four siblings encounter. This one was interesting, but we both agreed that this is our least favorite Boxcar Children book we’ve read, as the adult characters were very rude and unlikeable, the mystery was so easy to solve that it wasn’t really a mystery at all, and the ending was odd. We didn’t hate the book, but it won’t be one we want to read again (and normally we love rereading books from this series). We give this book three coconut monkeys. 🐵🐵🐵

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was kind of a nostalgic read. I read a bunch of The Boxcar books when I was a kid, although I never got to this one. The book was a well written children's story. I liked getting to hear about Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny's adventures again. I listened to this one on audio, which I probably won't do again because I didn't like how the narrator did the voices of the children. Other than that, it was a good walk down memory lane.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Boxcar Children book was a bit more of a mystery than some of the others. With the various minor characters that were acting very mysterious, it was more difficult to know who was involved in the mystery. One character was a red herring. Overall, this book is a pretty good introduction for a classic whodunit for kids.

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 72 of the Boxcar Children. Strange happenings follow the Alden children and there are definitely twists and turns along with people all over acting suspicious. With lots of hard work they’ll get to the bottom of it all. ​

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.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent suspense and plot, but didn't like the ending. The people in question were sneaking around and being dishonest to do a good thing. Seems like there was a much simpler way to deal with it. But then, there would be no mystery.

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just your traditional Alden kids adventure. Not the best, not the worst.

[Charles Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

77%

The store people seemed like assholes either way, so the issue is not resolved.

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mystery in this series.

[Shireen Hakim · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the worst book in the series. The rude suspects turned out to be goody goodies. The whole book was a mess. And why would kids work all day at a mall for free? Weird.

[Rosalynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet memory reading this with my six year old while sick with the flu. Always surprised how engaging this series is for both a young kid and an adult. 🧡

[Riv · Rating 2 out of 5]

For lit class. I used to love these books. Now: SO STUPID.
Just kidding. Sort of. Still totes recommend them for kids.

[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 :)

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is confusing. There is a mystery, the adults are mean to the kids.... but the adults are trying to help people???? Then why are they mean, ugh.