The Growling Bear Mystery

The Boxcar Children #61

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

When the Aldens visit Yellowstone they discover a map showing the way to an old cabin where gold is supposedly hidden

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

121 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

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

[Jessica Woodring · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars from Austen…2 from me. I didn’t tell her that I gave it 3 yet. 😬 The best part of this one was the bear bells. 🐻🔔

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Growling Bear Mystery" by Gertrude Chandler Warner takes the Boxcar Children to the scenic Yellowstone National Park, where they encounter a blend of natural beauty and puzzling intrigue. This review delves into the plot, character dynamics, and themes that make this book a captivating read.

The plot thickens when the Aldens embark on a trip to Yellowstone, hoping to uncover the legendary gold of the Lost Miner's Cabin. Their adventure begins with excitement as they explore the park's famous geysers and wildlife. However, their quest takes a mysterious turn when the treasure map disappears from their hotel room. Suspicion arises as they notice park employees giving conflicting stories about their whereabouts, leading the Aldens to believe that someone is deliberately trying to thwart their treasure hunt. Plot twists emerge as they investigate, revealing hidden motives, secret alliances, and unexpected connections to the Lost Miner's Cabin. The tone of the novel balances the awe of nature with the suspense of a classic mystery, creating an engaging experience for young readers.

Each of the Boxcar Children brings unique qualities to the team. Henry, the eldest, uses his leadership skills to organize the investigation and keep the team focused on their goal. Jessie, with her keen observation skills, notices subtle clues in the park employees' behaviors and the environment around them. Violet, gentle and perceptive, uses her empathy to understand the motives of the suspects. Benny, the youngest, adds energy and enthusiasm to the team, often befriending key witnesses and discovering important details. Their relationships with each other are the foundation of their success. They trust and rely on each other's strengths, compensating for individual weaknesses. For example, Henry's cautious approach is balanced by Benny's impulsiveness, creating a dynamic that drives the plot forward. Each child has their flaws, such as Henry's tendency to overthink or Jessie's worry, but their assets far outweigh them.

Several themes enrich the narrative. The importance of preserving natural beauty is highlighted as the Aldens explore Yellowstone and learn about its unique ecosystem. The value of historical knowledge is central, as the children research the Lost Miner's Cabin and its legendary gold. The theme of perseverance shines through as the children face setbacks and challenges, teaching young readers that dedication and hard work are essential for achieving goals.

In closing, "The Growling Bear Mystery" is a delightful blend of adventure and mystery, showcasing the Boxcar Children's enduring appeal. Readers who enjoy this book might also like "The Hardy Boys" or "Nancy Drew" series, which offer similar blends of mystery and adventure in different settings.

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 61 of the Boxcar Children. The Aldens are off to Yellowstone for a vacation and another mystery. Strange things keep happening and unfriendly people. Why won’t anyone talk about the lost shack in the woods along with the bag of gold. Looks like yet another mystery that the Alden kids will have to solve, if they can keep from being eaten by bears. This was a fun one but nothing terribly cleaver sticks out. If you’ve read this far, you’ll enjoy this one. ​

Joseph McKnight
http://www.Josephmcknight.com

[Kelly]

This book is mostly about a lost cabin as the “bear” doesn’t make an appearance for the first 100 pages.

What strikes me about this series is the boxcar children are always polite and honest, while the adults and other kids lie, deceive and may be rude. It’s good to teach a moral example but it’s not realistic.

Just like 4 kids never aging as they take trip after trip around the country but never seem to miss school either.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was not the most believable. There is a secret cabin that has never been discovered, yet someone has a map with a potential location for the cabin marked? Also, this location doesn't appear to be terribly remote, based on how long the children seemed to hike. The man to whom this map belongs hasn't sought to look into the location since he was a child, and he is now in his 60's. All very convenient for the Alden kids.

[Kasey Loftis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book in the series cause I enjoyed the location in Yellowstone National park, as well as the lodge. This series was my favorite as a kid, but I don't think I ever read this one when I was younger. It was great but the ending was a bit unbelievable that all the "bad" guys just apologize and own up to their wrong doings. It is a children's book though and it's good that it has that kind of happy ending for kids.

[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.

[Stefanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure how historical this is, but it was fun to hear the names of places in Yellowstone while we toured the area.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

We read this book right before going to Yellowstone and it helped us look for different things and think about them in different ways, so it was fun!

[Brynja · Rating 3 out of 5]

LOST CABIN TRAILS CLOSED.

[Charles Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

62%

Another VERY abrupt ending.

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mystery with interesting facts about Yellowstone.

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 3 out of 5]

My love of reading started when i was young, and it gives me immense pleasure to provide books to Spread the Word Nevada, an organization that passes them on to children in the community. They are a terrific organization supporting an important cause. If your local I encourage you to check them out. For those living further a field, look in your own community, their may already be a similar program in place. And if not, you can always help start one.

http://spreadthewordnevada.org/

Myself, I go out on the weekends and
shop thrift store and bulk book lots to rescue books and donate them. Sometimes I'll find a book I remember reading when I was young and will read it again before passing it on.

I don't rate these books using my normal scale, instead I give most of them three stars. This isn't a Criticism of the book, simply my way of rating them as good for children.

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you take into consideration the time period these were originally written (the first part of the series) and the types of books being written at that time, this is pretty typical.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. Read it to the kids. A Box Car Children book about 4 siblings who travel to Yellowstone with their grandfather. My son is also reading the first Box Car Children book this week.

[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 :)

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, fun for all ages.

[Partridge Public]

Warner, Gertrude C. PB