Schoolhouse Mystery

The Boxcar Children #10

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny used to live alone in a boxcar. Now they have a home with their grandfather and are spending the summer in a remote fishing village on the New England coast.

Benny is suspicious of a man he sees snooping in the village library. Who is he? And why does he hide from Benny? The Boxcar Children don't know the man's secret yet. But they are about to find out!

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

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

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

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schoolhouse Mystery by Gretrude Chandler
An excellent book with a real premise. The Alden children wanted to go to an island to see if they can find another mystery. Low and behold they stumbled apon an individual cheating the island families their antiques. While the children and Alden are solving the mystery the children are teaching the island kids at the old school house.
Raiting: 4 star 🌟

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Aldens are really starting to get on my nerves. I'm sure the intended message here is that it's great to help others when you can, but the delivery just doesn't quite work for me. The premise is that the folks in the fishing village are all uneducated and so a conman can easily take advantage of their naivety... Grandfather in all of his Knowledge and Experience can easily spot what's going on and Steps In to Help. I don't know why this came off as condescending instead of compassionate, but it kind of made me uncomfortable.. But, my children continue to enjoy the series and it provides some good talking points. The mystery here is pretty thin but the ambiance is somewhat interesting with the fishing village and the old schoolhouse.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Schoolhouse Mystery is about 4 children named Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. One summer evening, while they and there grandfather were all sitting on the porch Benny, the youngest blurts out that his friend dared him and his family to go to the most boring fishing town ever. He dared them to go because he knew that everywhere they went they always found and solved a mystery but he thought that they wouldn't find one in this little, tiny, boring, fishing town. But boy was he wrong..........

[AMHarriman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book to my SIPPS class after our phonics lessons each day. We enjoyed adventuring with The Alden kids as they figured out the mystery regarding “The Money Man”. The language and some of of the references were not understood by my kiddos because of when this book was written but still enjoyed it.

[Catherine Sotir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read an oldie, but goodie this time! It has been a long time since I have read The Boxcar Children. This was one I had not read yet. The Schoolhouse Mystery was just that, it kept me interested and intrigued right up until the end.

[Kimberly Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one.
"Just one more chapter, please?"
-Abby age 7.
2 hours later, we read the entire book. 💕

[Jessica Woodring · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars per Austen’s request…they ate PB&Js, fish, and cheese. They also stopped a smuggler and helped teach the children of a small fishing village how to remember and recite sentences someone writes on a blackboard.

[C-shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just love these Boxcar Children stories about sweet kids and generally nice people in a kinder, better time than now.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded ip
Always fun read with the kids

[What April's Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Boxcar Children books as a child, so it was fun to pick one up and share it with my children. Even the teens sat around while I read to the younger ones.

Nothing scary or thriller-ish about these mysteries, just good, clean children's mysteries. Simple writing that early chapter book readers will be able to get through easily.

[Tarin Shay]

2nd car audiobook! good narration, though in hindsight maybe a Boxcar Children mystery is a bit too advanced for a 3 year old

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Total nostalgia read.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good children's series.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This takes place in the summer on an island. The story involves a schoolhouse, a library, old coins, and a conman. The children teach the island children art, reading, and math while they are there. The mystery was interesting, but I liked the rest of the story more.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the school teaching and I felt the poor people in this story were treated with a bit more respect than in previous stories, although there are still definitely paternalistic themes, with the rich Aldens and Miss Gray taking care of the poor people.

As I've said before, the Boxcar Children books generally aren't really about mystery but more about adventure. There are twists, but they're generally pretty carefully guided and the story is more about the kids taking care of themselves and showing New England grit than about any secrets.

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one as a bit different of a mystery. =)

[Schnidine Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice

[JP · Rating 3 out of 5]

All right. Another instance of getting sidetracked from Grandfather's plan by something random, stumbling into a mystery--that may or may not be one--, another old woman that just wants to be left alone--but not from these children--and more of showing off just how rich they are without realizing it. Oh these books.

Basically, they go to a very poor little island, end up buying supplies and teaching the local kids (since the Aldens know everything, much more than those poor islands), and mess up a man that everyone loved because he was buying local coins and old things for crazy rates.

Let's talk about that for a minute:

Henry said, "Freddy is clever. So far he hasn't done anything that is against the law. The people here think he pays enough. They are delighted to trade.

That's ... actually a really good point. Ignoring the library books and things he did outside of the story (convenient that) for the moment, what he was doing was ethically perfect, but ... was it even that wrong? If he had told them, I bet many of the islands would have gone for his trades anyways. Where else are they going to find people to buy their stuff? And what kid wouldn't rather a new shiny doll to a broken old one. But no, to the Aldens, it really is all about the monetary value of things. Oy.

"Yes. The Alden kids did this. They did their duty as American citizens."

Just oy.

Also, Mr. Carter. Shows up in disguise for some reason? As if anyone would know him. And his disguise. The most hilarious fake English this side of Mary Poppins...

"Right," said Mr. Wilder-Smith. "I have important letters. Maybe you can help. But I must toddle along. Cheerio! Top-hole to meet you."

Oh... come one.

A few other random notes:

"Oh, boy!" shouted Benny. "We could sleep in the car! That's what this station wagon is made for."

I find this hard to imagine for four children and their grandfather. Fun, maybe something I'd do, but man that wouldn't be a good night's sleep.

And at the end:

"We won't say goodbye," said Benny. "We hate to say goodbye. We never do, we just go."

Since... just the Mountain Top Mystery, no? And now I bet that's how they end every book. Gertrude Chandler Warner is really getting into a formula here. I guess that's how they made hundreds of the things.

Overall, it's a vaguely interesting idea, but cringey execution. Let's see what they do next...

[Eileen Mccann · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE SCHOOlHOUSE MYSTERY (THE BOXCARCHILDREN #10) by Gertrude Chandler Warner, brings back memories. In the 1990's, this was a "Battle of the Books" choices and one of the favorites in my classroom of first, second and third graders. I kept my copy and reread it. This is the story of well-to-do Grandfather Alden and his four grandchildren, Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny. They find and solve mysteries where ever they go. Benny's friend, Max, challenges them to vacation in a small remote New England fishing village, Port Elizabeth, where nothing exciting happens. They take the challenge and off they go. A strange man, Mr. Fred Willet, an antique dealer, is due to arrive in the village for a second summer. This for them, this is a red flag when they listen to the poor villagers happily relate how Mr. Willet gives them money and beautiful things in exchange for old worn out keepsakes. Upon befriending several village children with little schooling, the Alden children walk to the top of the hill to ask rich, old Miss Gray for the schoolhouse keys so they can teach the children in the mornings. The sardine factory calls them to work in the afternoons. Acting as detectives, the Aldens discover that Mr. Willet is taking precious books from the Gray Library and hiding them, as well as the villagers' old coins and antique goods behind the library's bookshelves. Upon being caught the villain faces jail time and the Alden children are the village saviors. This is an intriguing story that holds the reader's interest. The colorful cover and black and white drawings throughout the book, add to the storyline for young readers (ages 6-9). For me, the story shows its age--a 1965 copyright. I'm not sure the depiction of the poor, uneducated village people who are at the mercy of a swindler and saved by the rich, would work today. All in all, though, it is a well written children's mystery and I did enjoy rereading it.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schoolhouse Mystery is the 10th installment of the famous The Boxcar Children series. Written by its original creator, Gertrude Chandler Warner, published in 1965, with illustrations by David Cunningham.

I really enjoyed this story. I must admit I'm new to The Boxcar Children series. Knew of them, of course, but didn't get around to reading them as a child. Trying to catch up now, and glad I did. This was a fun mystery that takes place on a secluded island where the Alden children are vacationing for the summer.

Things are off to a rocky start when the locals of the fishing community seem to ignore the vacationers, that is until the children discover the local children are uneducated and have talent and a thirst to learn. So they set up a school for the local children, with the blessing of the town's rich widow who lives in the house on the hill and is basically a recluse.

All seems rosy and dandy, until a stranger comes down, as he does every summer, who is buying old "junk" from the locals for what they believe is a good price. However, something doesn't seem right to the Alden children, and this prompts them into investigating the mysterious stranger.

A very short, fast mystery that has a fun multiply plot element that you don't usually see in older mystery novels for younger people. I'd highly recommend this book to readers who want to get into children's mysteries. There's a reason why The Boxcar Children are still being read today, and the reason is clear. Interesting characters, fun twists, and turns, and a happy ending. Perfect for any child.

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite book is The Boxcar Children The Schoolhouse Mystery ,written by Chandler Gertrude Warner. The book all started when a boy named Benny ( one of the 4 characters) was being very quiet ( which is really not normal) he said that one of his friends said that the boxcar children always go on an adventure ,but that they would never find a mystery in the town that Benny’s friends dad live in. so they go any way and do find a mystery. They end up in a town where there was only a store ,church ,hotel ,a sardine factory ,and a very lonely SCHOOLHOUSE!!! They go to the hotel and after a few days find out that there is no mystery anyways, they began to start to want to leave but they had spoken to early ,the boxcar children had found a mystery in the schoolhouse ,something odd in the town ,nobody around seems to want to talk to them , and they might end up in trouble.
I like the mysteries in the series and I like that the book is in the olden days. The book itself made me want to start my own mysteries. It inspired me to go out in my own neighborhood and start looking for a mystery ,I even went out with my mom and look down the road for a mystery. Of course I never found a mystery at home but I did at school! ( which I’m not going to share)
But if you are a mystery lover ,you like old timey things ,and your willing to give it a shot ,then this is the book for you!

[Octavia Cade · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know, I handwave a lot of stuff away about these books. (Well, not really, but I've come to accept that Benny will always be obnoxious, that these kids are nosy and spoilt, and that Grandfather is really quite a disturbing figure.) But why, why, why does everyone around them have to be so stupid? Apart from Carter, of course, but he's on retainer so he doesn't count. It's like the whole world is full of incompetents and they barely muddle along with life until the Aldens come along to set them straight. And yeah, this is a function of juvenile mysteries - I grew up on Trixie Belden - but still. Anyway, in this volume the family go off on a whim to a small fishing village, with the stated intention of poking round until they find something to investigate. And, quite coincidentally, the village is full of people being cheated by a smuggler and children being deprived of education... despite the fact that a rich old writer owns the schoolhouse and has donated a town library and helps schools all over the country. But that writer is a woman, and in this series that means situational incompetence, so the kids of the village can't read, and their parents aren't lifting a finger to teach them.

The stupid, it burns.

[Discovery Studioo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is called the Boxcar Children, School House Mystery. It was written by Gertrude Chandler Warner. It is a fiction book. The min characters are Henry, Benny, Jessie, Violet, and Mr. Alden.

The Alden's needed a vacation. Their friend Max told them about this place they could go to so they did. They went to this place were fishing was very popular. when they got their, the people seemed very nice but also very shy. Some of them ere jealous because the Alden's had nice cloths and they didn't. Soon they all became friends and they came up with an idea to start a summer school. The children loved it. Then there was this strange many and he would trade things for peoples junk. To the Alden's this seemed very weird. They caught him and the people learned the truth about this "money man".

I think this book was very nice and full of mysterious. I like how the Alden's were determined to make this vacation fun even though their friend didn't believe they could.I liked the ending because the caught the bad man and the people got their fare trade.

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Alden children are at it again. I was delighted to find this little nugget. While a lot of the stories feel forced or unnaturally coincidental, this is the second that made me sit up and notice. Albeit nothing about the reading level / simplicity of the Boxcar Children novels changes with this story, it flows better and is more delight some. The is the second book in the series that I give a strong like to as it simply sang off the page. If you’ve read these or wanted to pick one up to try this storyline in the series ​shows why the author was able to publish nearly 160 novels about these characters.

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com

[Makenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome. I love the boxcar children series. Benny's friend challenges him that on an island he will be bored. Benny takes the challenge and his family stays on the island for a week. I recommend this book to people who love mysteries. Enjoy!


...Everyone finds something to do and enjoys themselves. They prove Benny's friend wrong and find a mystery. In the mystery, this guy is buying antiques cheap and then turning around and selling them for a lot of money. The boxcar children save the day by catching the thief and proving Benny's friend wrong!

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I love the Boxcar Children and I will always treasure it. That said, its been a while since I actually read one of the books (like twelve years) so this gave me a new perspective. The Aldens are awesome and very independent. The storyline had two main plots that were actually pretty ingenious-- Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny teach school and try to catch a swindler of antiques at the same time. Plus, this one is one of the original twelve by Warner, so bonus! Also, Jessie is one of the fictional characters that I use to describe myself.

[Marilyn Showalter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realistic Fiction
3rd-5th grade reading level
I loved this series as a child, and I still love it! This book made me remember the long hours I would spend reading as a child, and how much I loved the thrill that these books bring. I like this book because it contains humor, mystery, and adventure. I thought it was really funny how Benny’s friend said that this island that they went to for vacation was boring, but the Alden family actually found lots to do on it. I was glad at the ending when all problems were resolved such as the bad guy getting caught and the writer becoming a teacher.

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to give these books at least 4 stars because for some reason I can’t explain my children love them. In this one the four Alden children help less fortunate children who are forced to work in a fish packing plant by condescending to teach summer school to them. They also force an introverted writer to interact with her fellow townspeople, and out a shady antiques dealer who is ripping people off by giving them money for the junk their grandfathers found on the beach.

[Trisha Arrowsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Alden's kids are good, kind and courageous kids. It helps that their grandfather has money and influences to help people so the Alden kids can help people and solve mysteries. In this book, they help set up a better school for the kids on the island. And at first, they even did Summer School for the kids as well. They catch a guy that has been cheating the island people out of their antiques. He was also steeling rare books from the old library.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ten down, nine to go. Let's focus on what I liked: The Aldens "...cared enough about their new friends to worry about them." Thankfully they also have the resources to help their new friends. That aspect *can* get annoying but I do like that the Alden kids are not haughty or selfish but are always looking for people to help with the gifts they have received (and trust they will continue to receive) from a generous (grand) Father.