The Haunted Cabin Mystery

The Boxcar Children #20

by Jeff Limke (Adapted by), Mark Bloodworth (Illustrator), Gertrude Chandler Warner

In this graphic novel, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny take a trip down the Mississippi River in a paddle-wheel boat and stay in a haunted cabin! At least it seems haunted―there are spooky phone calls, flickering lights, and strange shadows. Are there really ghosts, or is someone trying to scare the Boxcar Children away?

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Chapter Books, Juvenile, Young Adult

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

In case you couldn't tell by the children's attire in that cover art, this is circa 1990 and it definitely has the feel of the "middle" Boxcar Children books -- a bit updated, but still with lots of holdover from Gertrude's originals (Benny's pink cup makes an appearance! Jessie spends a ton of time in the kitchen! The Alden children are So Ridiculously Perfect!) I grated my teeth a bit at the goodie-goodie presumptuousness of the Aldens deciding to go ahead and visit Grandfather's old friend because they think they can help him while he's injured. Nice to want to help someone out, but, come on, at least someone use a telephone and give the man a heads up that you are actually coming since he specifically told you not to! What is Grandfather thinking!? Anyway, the mystery was pretty easy and the spooky aspects are just right for kiddos who don't want anything too scary. My boys enjoyed it at Halloween.

[Octavia Cade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This, the next in the series, is (as I have just discovered) the first not written by Warner, as she died after #19 and the series carried on without her. Honestly, I can tell the difference, and it's for the better. All four children are featured equally, which is a marked improvement over the Benny Show that the Boxcar books were becoming, and there's also a return to the children being genuinely helpful and useful, as they go to stay with a lonely, injured friend of their grandfather, so that he has people to look after him as he recovers. The kids look after the garden and the animals and the house, and there's a mystery too, as always, and it's well-structured and interesting. The oddest thing is the kids seem to all be several years younger again, as they were in the first book, and not the aged-up versions of themselves that they had become by the last. I don't mind that, so long as the quality keeps up.

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.8)

This is the first story that was written by a ghost writer and thankfully the writing doesn't show too much. However, we see that everyone has been de-aged and it seems to be set in its "modern day," aka 1978-1979. Though somewhat annoying, this allows for the different adventures to happen in the way that has become familiar to readers over the years.

Recommended 8+ for scary situations.

[Cheryl Gilmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice addition to the series. An easy to listen to audiobook with a great narrator. Wonderful, fun characters and a sweet plot.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quaint and sweet, you know the drill.

[Melmo2610 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily a top 3 BCC story for me. Excellent read!!

Just read for the 3rd time. Still one of my BCC favorites!

[Abby Stopka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a little bit to get into this book. However like every other all the mystery it was a great 1 and kept me riveted once I finally got into the book.

[Cherish Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3☆ Got something out of, but wouldn’t read again)
I loved these books as a kid & I'm really enjoying reading through the series again. I understand that the original author only wrote the first 19 books & years later other authors picked up the series & wrote under the original author's name, but there are so many major flaws. First, the original author wrote all the books in chronological order; from Henry being a 14-year-old to a grad student. This book goes back in time to when Henry is a 14-year-old boy. If you're reading the series in order, this is trippy. And the way the author writes the synopsis of the first book (their origin story) into a conversation between the kids is off-putting. It feels forced & doesn't naturally flow. It would have been better if it was from a narrator's perspective instead of a conversation from the kids that they would most likely never have. I also didn't like how the "bad guys" did things that were wrong, but weren't punished in anyway. I feel like it has a completely different message than the original books had about justice.

[Marion Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boxcar Children is a very good series for kids to read. The Haunted Cabin Mystery book was about the Aldens going to visit old Cap Lambert, their grandfather's friend. The Aldens (children) noticed that something was off at the Cap Lambert's cabin. They decided to go deeper and unravel the mysteries that were hidden in the cabin. This is a great mystery series to have in the classroom library that kids from 2rd graders can read on their own.

[Susan]

The children ride a paddle-wheeler to visit a friend of their grandfather who lives in a remote cabin. When he hurts his ankle, he tries to cancel the visit, but the children insist on going anyway to take care of him. After they arrive, a lot of spooky things start happening in the area, and a strange man they met on the boat turns up again - is he spying on them? An interesting one, very quick read.

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book of the series that wasn't written by Gertrude Chandler Warner herself (although it's credited to her, she had already passed away). I was a little nervous about how the series would change, and they did go back to when the kids were younger (Henry was driving at the end of the series and Benny had a job, and now Henry is 14 and Benny is 6), but I thought the writing style was similar and I enjoyed the mystery.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first addition to the series not directly written by the original author, this particular story was pretty good! The Alden siblings are on their toes, diving into a mystery as they always do, doing good where they're able, and generally having a good time. Loved this series as a kid, but never read the whole thing in its entirety. Looking forward to picking up and reading a few that slipped past my notice when I was younger!

[Library Queen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first Boxcar Children story not written by Gertrude Chandler Warner! It's not bad, just very simplistic and not very scary at all. When I was kid, I had no idea that the majority of the Boxcar Children books had been ghost written using the original author's name, and now I'm curious as to who actually is writing them. Is it all the same person? Is it 20 different people? hmm...

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boxcar Children number 20. After all the stuff I have been reading lately, it was nice to return to the Aldens. This was a cute little mystery that left you guessing until the end. Good misdirection and great resolution leaves you feeling good about old values. ​Reminds you that family is the most important thing. Recommended.

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com

[L.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the last book in the series, Henry was a college student and Benny was old enough to have a part-time job as a delivery boy. In this book, they're back to being much younger, Henry is 14 and Benny only 6. I like the books where the kids are older, the younger Benny is kind of annoying but the older Benny is much more charming. Still a good story and a great ending.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book 📖 is really good. These kids have a good mystery that they are solving as a family. They are also helping this older man, taking care of a horse 🐎, hens and a garden. The 2 👦 get to ride the horse 🐎 into town to go to the hardware store and the grocery store.

[Jishnu Thakkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite character was Benny cause he loves to eat like me

nothing surprised me

i would not change the ending

[Lydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook
The narrator’s voice for 6-year-old Benny is ridiculous.
Nice wholesome mystery books for beginning readers.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew mr jay was caps son from the beginning

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio.

[Ashley♡♤ S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what I was expecting, but the narrator was great!

[Charles Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

74%

Got damned children stealing eggs 🥚

[Nader Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun book to read, fast paced and I really liked the example given by the Alden grandfather at the end of the book.
VERDICT: (7.6/10)

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The 6 year old read half out loud and I read the other half. It was fine, but not as good as the first one

[Mikayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the boxcar children, but they made the graphic novel way to short to be enjoyable. It made it feel like I was only reading the plot points to a story.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A re-read from my childhood for a Halloween themed boom challenge.

[Mara K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

not bad

[Sue Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it

[Holly Wheeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is a part of a series of mysteries. Four siblings who were orphaned go to stay with this old man, they begin to hear noises and see flashing lights, they decide to solve this mystery by themselves. Read to find out if they solve the mystery!