The Mystery of the Spider's Clue

The Boxcar Children #87

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

best selling Boxcar Children series now on audio

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

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2002

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

[Bailey Marissa]

Family bonding is great.

Recommended 6+ for family situations

[Simon]

"The Mystery of the Spider's Clue," the Alden children—Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny—find themselves swept into a high-stakes scavenger hunt after their friend Sam receives a cryptic letter from a late millionaire. The plot is driven by a series of riddles that force the children to navigate the town’s history, turning a simple puzzle into a race against other greedy competitors. As they decode each clue, the narrative builds tension by focusing on the mystery of Sam’s own background, suggesting his past is the key to the fortune. The tone is classic mystery—gentle yet suspenseful—capturing that nostalgic sense of adventure typical of the series.

The Aldens are the heart of the story, each contributing unique skills: Henry provides physical help and leadership, Jessie acts as the organized planner, Violet uses her observational skills to notice details others miss, and Benny offers enthusiasm that often uncovers overlooked perspectives. Their strength lies in their tight-knit bond, which keeps them focused when the puzzles become frustrating. However, they aren't perfect; their reliance on one another can sometimes lead to groupthink, and their unwavering trust in Sam occasionally blinds them to the complexities of the other contestants. The secondary characters, particularly the rivals chasing the same inheritance, serve as foils who highlight the children's integrity, as the Aldens prioritize friendship over the potential wealth.

The book explores several profound themes, such as the value of loyalty over material gain. Throughout the journey, the children are repeatedly tempted by the prospect of the millionaire's money, yet they remain steadfast in their commitment to Sam. This underscores the idea that true wealth is found in supportive relationships rather than bank accounts. Another core theme is the power of collaborative problem-solving; the mystery is designed to be impossible for one person to crack, reflecting how diverse strengths are necessary to overcome complex obstacles. Finally, the story touches on the concept of legacy, as the eccentric millionaire uses riddles to ensure his fortune goes to someone who possesses the wit and character to appreciate his life's work.

"The Mystery of the Spider's Clue" is a charming addition to the series that emphasizes intellect and kindness. If you enjoy this style of juvenile mystery, I recommend reading "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin or the "Nancy Drew" series by Carolyn Keene.

[Joseph D.]

Book 87 of the Boxcar Children. This was a fun mystery, nothing dangerous in this one and would be appropriate for younger children and those really sensitive ones. It is still a solid mystery but more mild than even most of the other ones. ​

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com

[Cherish Brown]

(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 to this book is fantastic! Would recommend.

[Angie]

Lizzie: I love that the boxcar children help all they help Sam a lot helping him with the windows.

[Shannon]

Fun to listen to in the car with the girls on our fall break trip.

[Charles Reed]

75%

Very funny and quirky mystery hunt

[V. Arrow]

Well, time to reread The Westing Game.

[Kim Hampton]

Another fun mystery.

[Sue Ann Dashnaw]

Love it
Been loving the series since I was a kid
Love reading them now too
Great books

[Tina Harden]

The Boxcar Children titles encouraged me to read and, as an adult, I still enjoy reading them. This particular title has a perfect ingredient list:

Memory Recall
Awareness of Surroundings
Respect for Elders
Doing Good Deeds
Logic and Reasoning
Map Reading
Use of Reading and Writing Skills
Use of a Public Library (even without your card)
Table Manners and Proper Etiquette
Process of Elimination/Deductive Reasoning
Food Preparation
Journal Entry/Writing

All the titles stand to teach children a lesson. Of the titles I've read this one stands out most for learning the most valuable lesson-being a GOOD person.

[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 :)

My sister bought this one for me when we were both little and it is a favorite. I always loved the ones that included riddles, even though I am terrible at solving them.

[ana grace]

I was thoroughly impressed that this childhood favorite held up upon reread. While the plot is quite simplistic, it's written in a way that's engaging and palatable to younger kids. This was for sure the most successful read in my return to the Boxcar Children series.

[Mrs. Bahns]

In this book the Aldens friend's dad died and he has gotten a mystery and gives it to the Aldens to find out.

[Katie]

These are great listens for the car. My boys would call out their thoughts occasionally about the mystery, trying to solve it.

[Melody]

This is the last Boxcar Children book that I remember reading...

[Allison McLeod]

MYSTERY

[Stacie]

The kids are actually called upon to solve an upfront mystery but wait... is that a side mystery lurking the corner? Read to find out!