The Soccer Mystery

The Boxcar Children #60

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Aldens and cousin Soo Lee join the Greenfield soccer league and have lots of fun until strange things start happening and they must find out who is responsible for sabotaging the teams in their league.

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

116 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

[Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

2025 popsugar challenge—a book about soccer

Boxcar children, a children’s book series, was first published in 1924. The series was created by Gertrude Chandler Warner who wrote the first 19 books. The series is still being written today with over 160 books to date.

[Jeremiah L Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

[Christine Barth · Rating 3 out of 5]

So fun to share a chapter book that I enjoyed as a kid with my own kid.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Soccer Mystery" by Gertrude Chandler Warner combines the Boxcar Children's classic charm with the exciting world of sports. This review delves into the plot, character dynamics, and themes that make this book a captivating read.

The plot thickens when the Aldens join a local soccer league, eager to experience the thrill of teamwork and competition. However, their enthusiasm is quickly dampened by a series of suspicious events: deflated soccer balls, ruined goalie gloves, and their star player mysteriously trapped in the locker room during a crucial game. Sensing foul play, the Aldens embark on a mission to uncover the culprit and restore fair play to the league. Plot twists emerge as they investigate, revealing rivalries, hidden agendas, and unexpected alliances. The tone of the novel balances the excitement of sports with the suspense of a classic mystery, making it engaging 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. Jessie, with her keen observation skills, notices subtle clues that others overlook. 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. 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 value of teamwork is central, as the Aldens demonstrate how collaboration and mutual support can overcome obstacles both on and off the field. The importance of fair play and sportsmanship is highlighted as they investigate the sabotage and strive to restore integrity to the soccer league. 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 Soccer Mystery" is a delightful blend of sports 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 60 of the Boxcar Children. This time the Alden children are trying to learn who is behind all the terrible things happening. There is a job at stake and plenty of would be criminals. Will the Alden children be able to solve it? And who is the creepy guy in the van with binoculars? This one was too straight forward, but the whodunnit did surprise me.

Joseph McKnight
http://www.Josephmcknight.com

[Mary Volesky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grade: 3-5
Genre: Mystery
Unique Feature: I really enjoyed how this book kept the reader guessing on who the spy was. I was never quite sure who was spying on their soccer team and it made me want to keep reading. I think that the author did a good job not making it too obvious who the spy was and making it exciting to read until the very end.

[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.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like soccer this is a great book i do love it but it is not my favorite. I just wish if you did not read one then the next book gives it away.

[Leslie L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with my boys in 2020.

[Kelly]

No real ”mystery” here but it goes along in the series. More like pranks around group sports and the comparison between having fun and winning at all costs.

[Charles Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

72%

Kids sabotaging!? Wild

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mystery in this one and the lesson about good sportsmanship.

[Samuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was pretty good. I liked it. I highly recommend this series!

[John Richard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this with Luna a couple months ago. Probably would make more sense if we already knew the characters. Cute…engaging for her. Not a ton of substance though

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun childhood memories, but the audiobook had possibly the worst narration I’ve heard in a long time.

[Joshua Robles · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Soccer Mystery is a very mysterious book. In the beginning, the Aldens try out for the soccer team. The older members of the family teach Benny and Violet how to play. At Benny and Violet's first game, their best player Elena was locked in the locker room and someone was spying on the Aldens to see how good Gillian was at teaching her team. Then, all of the soccer balls were deflated so they had to pump them back up.
This is a very well written children's book that has the mystery aspect in where the reader wants to know more and the author does a great job of not giving away too much info. This book is quite long and fits the criteria to the point where it is realistic.
OVerall, this was a good read. It allows the reader to be engaged while maintaining the mystery of the plot.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I was on a soccer team and I had a soccer coach just like Gillian. But then again, I wish I could do everything - acting, soccer, swimming, singing, dancing, baseball, skiing, vacationing, biking, reading, going to the library every 10 minutes, partying, playing... yay for books so you get to read all about these things even if you can't do them all at once!

[Tobi Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bueno

Yo megusta este libro todomente es muy bien dictado oh yay if you dont understand well I said

Great
I like the book so muchthe book is so good dictaded

[Partridge Public]

Warner, Gertrude C. PB

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

great when ur little

[Taya · Rating 3 out of 5]

awsome

[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 :)