The Camp-Out Mystery

The Boxcar Children #27

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

These kids used to live alone in a boxcar and now they live with grandpa and he is taking them camping. They loved setting up camp but something strange happens in the night, loud music, their lantern disappears. Now they have a mystery to solve.

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

121 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

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

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

We've read a few books in The Boxcar Children series and we really like them. The stories are exciting and suspenseful and the children are all so independent and capable.

This story takes the family camping and our girls are eager for the weather to get warmer so we can go camping again.

There's also a subtle environmental theme to this story and I liked that the book describes how the children pick up the trash they find around the campgrounds. We will definitely look for more stories in this series at our local library.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The camp-out mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner
First time reading this author and looking forward to it because I am always looking for new books for my grandson to read.
Alden children are on their camping trip with their grandfather. Love hearing how they prepare for the trip-as they are packing the car.
They get mixed signals from others as they shop for food and check into the camp site. They wonder why not a lot of people are there and discover a lot of different reasons: noise, bats, missing things.
Lots of mysteries for the children to solve...medical emergency and love how everyone works together, everybody has their own jobs to do. What I like about listening to this book is you hear all the sounds as they happen, doors squeaking open, bags getting packed, etc
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic and well acclaimed series, recommended as a great series for young readers. The Boxcar Children invoke the enjoyment for mystery-solving and having a close relationship with family.

The mysteries are certainly twinged with a bit more danger now, and you can tell that other authors are penning the stories. They still make for excellent adventures and problem solving. These books keep to the classic focus of the original 19 stories and have heart and family values and helping others as a forefront in every story.

The children are all oh-so-friendly to each other and those they meet. They seem to agree about mostly everything; their world seems to be made of butterflies and rainbows. The times of this book being written to present day are vastly different.

[Octavia Cade · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's okay. Not the best of the Boxcar mysteries, but not the worst either. I liked the focus on nature and environmentalism, but the book could have used a good proofread, I think. There's one part where the kids use paper napkins instead of plates while camping, because they don't want to be bothered with washing dishes... except they've been using paper plates the whole time, and burning them in the fire, so how they suddenly have crockery in the middle of nowhere I don't know. And the illustration of them in the station wagon doesn't match the text, with the kids sitting in different places. It's nothing big in either case, but sort of sloppy, you know?

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 27 of the Boxcar Children. I did enjoy this, however it is not my favorite of the recent ones it still is following the same structure and thus is far better than the earlier novels. What do you do when strange things begin happening in your campground? If you’re the Alden’s then you begin to investigate. This was one of the few where grandfather Alden was not just the 5 minute​ adult supervision that is so common in child-centric stories, albeit they do have to rescue the adults. All in all it was a good read and a recommend.

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com

[Nader Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Camp-Out Mystery delivers the familiar charm of The Boxcar Children, with its strong, lovable characters.
Even though the plot is light and the camp atmosphere isn’t the most vivid, the interactions between the characters make the story enjoyable
The writing is pleasant, though it could have used a bit more suspense to make the mystery stronger. Still, it’s a cozy, heartwarming read that made me curious enough to look up the real camp it was based on.
*****************************************
Verdict
(6.9/10)

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grandfather and the children go camping at a state park. It is surprisingly empty, and they hear annoying loud music and see strange lights. When grandfather falls and hurts his ankle, the children take over to help him, and meet some people who live nearby. Eventually of course, they solve the mystery of what is going on at the campsites. Okay quick read.

[Chelsie Hargrove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I like the Boxcar Children but someone should tell these nosy kids that it's not safe to confront criminals, especially kidnappers in a secluded cabin in the woods. Everything always turns out okay in the end but needs a "real life is different" warning. They are not the best role models for safety even if they are generally responsible. Cute stories though.

[Natalia Horzempa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.it was just so exciting and fun ❤

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story for the kids! Didn’t realize it’s an entire series!!!!

Can’t wait to get it for the kids!

[Jodi Forrester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

The book had lots of adventure and mysteries in it. I was wondering what was happening. It was really good, and kind of funny.

[Leslie L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with my boys in 2020.

[Lauretta Duran]

it was good and i would recommend it

[Sienna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a good book. Good for people who likes mystery.it’s not scary.

[Charles Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

72%

Get those got damned forest chumps outta here!

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to this fun series.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was one of the better boxcar children books!

[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. Would recommend.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm probably showing my age when I say that for me the "bad guy" in this book was actually the hero!

[Sy Ewoniuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read The Boxcar Children the Camp-Out Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner. I finished this book on 4/5/13. This book is a mystery. What I liked about this book is that it kept me on my heels. You didn’t know what would happen next which really kept it interesting. Someone turned the sign that led you to the ranger station the wrong way. Then when they were sleeping there was loud music playing that was really disturbing and woke them up. Then the honey wasn’t in the kitchen tent and they found it in the middle of the campsite. Also there lantern disappeared. Then 2 beams of light were flashing. Someone also stole their pancake batter. Then Grandfather Alden dissapears and breaks his ankle because there was a startling blast of loud music which made him lose his balance and fall in a ravine. Then while they were sleeping there goes the loud music again. Someone was also walking around in there campsite. Then the note they left for grandfather on the picnic table was stuck to a tree with an arrow. Also there stew went missing. Someone also stole some of their bread. Then Hildy disappears. I would use the words amazing, suspenseful, interesting, and cool. Yes I would read more books by this author. I plan on reading 1 more book by this author this quarter. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes kids and mysteries.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty soon, I will have read more Boxcar Children books than Rainbow Magic books. I really enjoy how the Boxcar Children always go on a trip, sometimes big and sometimes little. Another thing I like is that the children aren't under grownup supervision as much as people are in other books. I like it because I kind of wish I wasn't under as much adult supervision.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book and it has a lot of mystery.I do recommend this book.This book was mostly about four children Henry,Jessie,Voilet,and Benny.They go to camp then noticed weird things happening and then have to figure it out.

[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 this one being a favorite. I was so surprised by the ending!! Totally did not see it coming.

[Partridge Public]

Warner, Gertrude C. PB

[Mrs. Bahns · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book someone is trying to scare campers off. The Aldens want to know who and why.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

great when ur little

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good series for the young reader.

[WSL Library]

X2

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book.

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite part was when the mystery was solved. the worst part was when the good guy was actually the bad guy. my favorite character was hildy, because she wasnt bad. the worst character was andy