The Mystery of the Lost Mine

The Boxcar Children #52

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny use to live alone in a boxcar. Now they have a home with their grandfather and they're going on a trip to the Arizona desert.

There the Aldens learn about the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine. Everything thinks the mine is filled with gold. Can the Aldens find out if the legend is true, and if it is, who will find the gold?

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

121 pages, Paperback

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]

This book's plot and the end were great! But it was a little difficult to read because I'm studying English on my own, so I found the vocabulary a little too complicated. I re-read it with Scrib audio!

Synopsis: "The Aldens are going on a trip to the Arizona desert. There they learn about the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine. Everyone thinks the mine is filled with gold. Can the Boxcar Children find out if the legend is true - and if it is, who will find the gold?"

[Gort · Rating 3 out of 5]

Est vel corrupti delectus. Placeat et eum voluptatibus non. Qui ab itaque rerum. Corrupti id et pariatur aut culpa est veritatis. Quidem sed soluta ratione saepe aut esse.

[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 :)

I remember reading this one outside in the heat of summer. Mom made me go outside because I was sitting and reading too much, but I just took my book outside. :P

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this with my daughter who is in 1st grade for Accelerated reader. It was fun to read together and create the characters as we went along. I may have a knack for westerns if Audible is in need for country readers 😂. All I. All a great story line for children, clean and well written.

[Rose]

JF War

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

In third grade, my teacher read The Boxcar Children to my class, and we all loved it. I never continued the series on my own...until now! I jumped back in at book #52, because it's a mystery set in the Arizona desert, which is exactly the kind of book I was looking for. I was impressed by the swift and effective way this book introduces characters and sets up the story. Very economical language, for a quick and easy read.

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 52 of the Boxcar Children. The Alden’s are off to look for the Lost Dutchman’s Mine. We’ll at least they’re the area. The formula is still working well with plenty of red herrings and suspects along the way. Well written and a little different scenery than normal but they still get their bad guy. ​

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. The ending was so good; loved the humor! Would recommend.

[Nader Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10
Really good plot and character
Fresh atmosphere
Good Story even for an adult!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute as always.

[Danae · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5*

[Charles Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

82%

Never trust a cowboy.

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mystery in this series.

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mystery of the Lost Mine
By Gertrude Chandler Warner
Is a great book because it effected me by telling Me never to giveing in. Also I think the Author took a lot of effert to this book because the Author was thinking about life lessons so I think its a great because of the lesssons about life. Even if its non fiction its realistic to Me because the Mine is Real but no one has found the Mine so That is why I think it is a good book.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it was cool because there were lots of suspects and there were two mysteries that they had to solve. I like that they are mystery solvers and that wherever they go, there is a mystery to solve.

[Partridge Public]

Warner, Gertrude C. PB

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

great when ur little

[Alexandra Lindner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the series!!