The Mystery on Stage

The Boxcar Children #43

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Aldens are starring in The Wizard of Oz ―and even Benny and Watch have roles! But as the children get ready to perform, mysterious things start to happen. Can the Boxcar Children find out what's going on and save the show before opening night?

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

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

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 3 out of 5]

It was an Okay reading and re-reading.
Synopsis: "The Boxcar Children have a chance to be in a real play - The Wizard of Oz! Jessie is chosen for the Cowardly Lion. Benny will play a munchkin. Even Watch has a part and all the Aldens are helping with the show. Then mysterious things begin to happen. Someone makes a threatening phone call and a costume is destroyed. Maybe the show won't go on - unless the Boxcar Children can solve the mystery before opening night!"

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooooo gooooood! It was in my top 10 favorites! I love to act and I love to predict who caused the mystery! I hope you read it!

[Samuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. It was one of the better ones. I highly recommend this series.

[Cori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read May 12, 2019

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Mystery on Stage," 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 on Stage" 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 43 of the Boxcar Children. This was a good example of how a mystery does not have to be flashy to be good. This book is in someways a nod to Phantom of the Opera. Someone is trying to ruin play and the Alden children are on the case. This was a good mystery, not in my top favorites but close. I can see how these books influenced a generation. ​

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.

[Blanca Hernandez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can’t read it

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much misdirection

[Danae · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*

[Charles Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

58%

Another abrupt ending

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in this series.

[Emylly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great beginning, mysterious middle, ending was a little over done

[Stephanie Duerr · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was fun. my favorite part was the audiobook had sound effects

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book left a lot of conflicting and scattered clues, none of which added up to solving the mystery.

My daughter preferred the Vampire's Vacation, as that book left definite clues that added up to solving the mystery rather than pointing the reader in different directions.

[Partridge Public]

Warner, Gertrude C. PB

[Tyra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one left a lot to be desired. There were a lot if conflicting clues and loose ends that were never really brought together in the end. My 4 year old did still enjoy it.

[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 :)

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still have my copy from childhood.These books cultivated my love for reading

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

great when ur little