Tree House Mystery

The Boxcar Children #14

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Four brave siblings were searching for a home – and found a life of adventure! Join the Boxcar Children as they investigate the mystery of a secret window in this illustrated chapter book series beloved by generations of readers.

A family moves into the house next door! The Boxcar Children decide to make friends with their new neighbors by building a tree house with them. In the process, they notice a window in their neighbor's house that nobody knows about. Does the old home have a secret?

What started as a single story about the Alden Children has delighted readers for generations and sold more than 80 million books worldwide. Featuring timeless adventures, mystery, and suspense, The Boxcar Children® series continues to inspire children to learn, question, imagine, and grow.

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

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

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

[Janete on hiatus due health issues · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are no great mysteries here. This book is a little boring. I hope to read soon my YA books in English and then buy adults books in English on the site of the Brazilian Amazon. I read this book for the third time, but now with the audiobook.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** WARNING: This review contains spoilers!!! ***

I really enjoyed this one! There was so much that I liked about this book.

I liked the introduction of Jeffrey and Sammy Beach, and I liked that they - like Mike - were different from the Alden children, yet they still all got along.

As a parent who likes to see positive role models in books, I liked how the Alden children kept reminding the Beach boys that they should ask for their parents' permission before doing new things. :P I also liked that they were sensitive to not wanting to intrude where they might not be wanted.

I even liked that Henry and Jessie sometimes had other plans, and weren't a part of all the activities. This book wasn't explicit about the children's ages, but Benny did say, at first, that he wished the Beach boys (aged 8 and 10) were older, which I think implied that Benny was older than they, so maybe he was 12? That would put Henry in his early 20's, and maybe he and Jessie were both in college, home for summer vacation!? I don't know, but it was kind of reassuring to see that they did sometimes have better things to do than play with little kids all the time.

I thought the mystery was just mysterious enough for a children's book - nothing criminal, and not too far-fetched.

And even though this book had an almost obligatory food business overnight success story a la Mike's Mother's Place and Benny's Buns, it was nice that someone besides Benny came up with the winning ideas.

Despite being such a pleasant read, I just couldn't bring myself to give this book 5 stars - though I would have given it 4 1/2 stars if 1/2 stars were possible here. I was really just hoping that the book would tie up one sort of loose end and somehow reunite a grown-up Willy with his rocking horse.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this was a buddy read with my 7-year-old daughter. She is devouring books these days! She really liked this one and it was fun to discuss with her afterwards. Not much peril here to freak her out, but enough mystery/adventure to keep her attention.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun instalment. I loved how the kids reached out to others and helped them.

[Mikayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this one as a kid and it didn't disappoint as an adult. But I was a bit sad it didn't include more of Henry and Jessie.

[MnMs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all the Boxcar Children
stories I have read, this
one is only second to
the first in the series.
This particular story really
seemed ever so warm and
happy.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the first Box Car Children book I've read for a LONG time. They are way under my reading level, but they are still fun to read. I really recommend these books for young readers who like mysteries. I do like the Nancy Drew books better, but these used to be my favorite, and they are better for younger kids.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Benny always has the best lines. This one was okay, seemed to be missing something compared to the others.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This takes place in the summer in Connecticut. The story involves new neighbors, a tree house, a spyglass, a hidden room, a rocking horse, and a restaurant. This has a slow start, but once the children begin building the tree house things pick up. I liked the mysteries, and it was interesting the way they came together, but I wanted one of them to have a different ending.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tree House Mystery (1969) by Gertrude Chandler Warner is the fourteenth book in the Boxcar Children series, but it's the first one I've actually read. My previous experience with the Alden children was bringing home books on tape/CD from the library for my son when he was small and hearing some of the stories. I can't honestly say if this was one of them or not. I picked this one up from the library to go along with the Birth Year Reading Challenge (as well as others).

In this particular adventure, the Alden kids (Benny, Henry, Jessie, & Violet) are excited when new neighbors move in at the house next door. The Beach house has been empty for so long that they often had forgotten it was even there. But a family moves in with two young boys and soon the friendly Aldens have broken through their reserve and have convinced Jeffrey and Sammy Beach that the thing their new home is missing is a tree house.

While building the tree house and the kids get to know each other, the Aldens learn that Jeffrey and Sammy's dad and his brother used to have a tree house in that same tree. They used to have great fun until one day their prize possession--a telescope--went missing. Each blamed the other and, as sometimes happens, this small disagreement built up over the years and now the men rarely see each other or talk at all. There is also a secret room in the attic of the Beach house which shows evidence that a little boy (other than the Beach brothers) once lived there and played with a much beloved rocking horse. The kids are determined to discover what happened to the missing telescope and who the little boy was. They're certain that finding the telescope will help bridge the gap that has divided the Beach family for so many years. A telescope and a rocking horse are just what the Aldens need to solve a mystery and bring a happy ending for their new friends.

This is a cute story with a mystery that is just right for young readers. There is no danger involved and just a good dose of children's curiosity. A very pleasant read and I understand why my son liked these stories so much when he was little.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting.

[Eric Jolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is everything childhood should be:
-making new friends
-building a fancy tree house
-finding a spy glass
-finding a hidden window and room in an old house
-discovering toys and an old rocking horse in a hidden room
-helping two estranged brothers come together
-a restaurant on "the old road" coming back to life
-and, finally, the Alden's!

Recommend for anyone with kids 6-10. This is my 2nd favorite of the Boxcar Children series.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those lucky Alden kids! As if being a mystery-solving orphan weren't enough now they have a tree house to boot!

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Aldens build a treehouse, befriend some neighbors, and learn more about the history of the neighbor's house. Not the greatest but still cute.

[JP · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a nutshell, new neighbors move in, they're mostly ignored by their parents (back to that in a moment), the Aldens barge in and make friends, they all build a treehouse, find a hidden room, and fix a old (kind of dumb) feud between the neighbor's father and uncle.

Oy.

It's actually a pretty cute and fairly realistic story. I like the idea of them building a treehouse, mostly by themselves, although my own children are far too young for it. Some day. And while the feud is dumb, it kind of makes sense. And the mystery of the hidden room isn't much of a mystery, but it's about the right level for a kid's book.

All together, it's a fun book. And hey. The family next door is constantly referred to as they Beach boys (their name is beach, their house is on the beach). This amuses me more than it probably should.

One thing that really bugs me and is only sort of mentioned in the story is the Beach boys' (heh) relationship with their parents:

"I know he is an important scientist now. He won't have much time for me, I'm afraid."

:\ I like how the Aldens are so independent, but you never get the idea that it's because their grandfather doesn't have time for them...

A few random thoughts:

"We really have big dog," said Benny. "His name is Watch, but he isn't here this summer. My Aunt Jane wanted him on the farm."

Why is Watch not in any of these stories? It's just kind of weird at this point...

Benny Alden was a boy who liked to see things happen. One day at breakfast he burst out, "Those kids next door are the dumbest kids I ever saw."

Blunt much? Feels like a younger kid though, so it works.

Sammy said, "I know. Maybe there's something hidden in the mattress. Come on, Jeffrey."

Sounds familiar!

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery is fairly dull, but it does do a good job of being a little creepy without going overboard (though that never-seen grandmother gave me some Miss Haversham vibes for sure!) The Aldens, as usual, try to make someone else's life better -- it didn't feel as meddlesome as some of the other books, as it is their new neighbors and they are simply trying to be nice to the new kids. The family feud between the new neighbor kids' dad and uncle was really lame. And, of course, Grandfather Alden has to throw his money around at the end (again, I don't know why this feels patronizing instead of genuinely kind philanthropy, but somehow it does). I still prefer the destination settings, but this is one of the least annoying books in the series, IMO. PS Why in the world isn't Watch the dog in these books more!? It is so frustrating. I believe this one they said he went to stay at Aunt Jane's farm. I don't think Gertrude is being euphemistic here as he's mentioned in later books. It really makes no sense, when he was such a good companion and integral part of the very first book. Why leave him out!? Not cool.

[Karalynn Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one started out slow. Hearing about two boring boys left alone in a large old house with their workaholic parents was not very interesting. But Benny Alden saves the day. He can’t stand boring boys being ignored. So he inspires them to build a treehouse. Once built, they find an old spyglass hidden in the tree. Using the spyglass they find a hidden window to the boys’ attic. The window leads them to a hidden room which leads the gang to find out about the house’s original owners. All of this helps the formerly boring boys save their uncle’s failing diner. My kids sat up past their bedtime refusing to let me stop reading until we had finished so, even with the strangeness of this story, it was a mystery that engaged all three kids (8, 11, and 12).

[Octavia Cade · Rating 2 out of 5]

A poor unsuspecting family moves next door the the Aldens, and is quickly made the subject of the nosiest children in the universe. It's pretty standard as these books go, down to Grandfather Alden continuing to quietly build his oligarchy by making sure he has a financial interest in everyone around him, but two things in particular did give me a small laugh. The first was Benny's minor temper tantrum after the two kids next door initially seemed to have no interest in hanging out with him. (I have no interest in you either, Benny.) The second was the number of times Henry and Jessie had plans of their own that took them out of the story. Apparently they're getting lives... Good for them. I hope they keep it up.

Maybe they're sick of Benny too.

[Kelli Trusedell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last few months my sons and I have been loving listening to the classic Boxcar Children books on audiobook while driving to and from school and activities. I loved this series growing up, and read quite a few of them. The Treehouse Mystery was always my favorite, so I was very excited to listen to this one with my boys. We all enjoyed the story, the mystery, and the narrator who always does a great job with the voices in these audiobooks. My 8-year-old gives this book “infinity stars,” and I give this book four hammers for new friends/neighbors to build a treehouse together. 🔨🔨🔨🔨

[Trisha Arrowsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids end up helping some new neighborhood kids to build a tree house. They found a window that shouldn't be there. They end up finding a fake wall and take it down, reveling a boy's room on the other side untouched for years. The kids decides to decorate the neighbor's uncle's restaurant with the old toys to bring some attraction. They find the missing telescope that the kids' father and uncle fought over. They made up and are happy brothers again.

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes the Alden children can find a mystery without even leaving the house. That said this was a fun little read. However not one of my top favorites. That said the writing is far superior to when the series started. This classic story is still a recommend for those middle grade readers in your life. ​

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com

[Jessica Woodring · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars from both of us because it was a little “sad and scary.” I don’t really know what parts scared my 5 year old but the fact that the neighbor kids didn’t know how to talk to the Alden family because their parents preferred them to be quiet all of the time so they could do their research was definitely upsetting.

[Kara Kuehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story! I really enjoyed it. This is a good one for the sensitive readers who may not enjoy the more thrilling boxcar adventures.

I love how they always ask for permission from the parents.

Things to be aware of in “Tree House Mystery”

Language:
- 3 “dumb” or “dumbest”

Additional Notes:
- 2 brothers part over a silly dispute.

[Teresa Granado-Law]

Good quote for showing the difference in the Generations. This book was written in 1969. This is the Boxcar Children talking about some new neighbor kids that just moved in. “I think they are unhappy” and then Benny asks “Why should they be unhappy. They have a big yard full of trees and bushes and rocks. Most boys would think it was a great place to have fun.”

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boxcar Children are a little hard to read aloud because they're not written well for that, but the mystery was perfect for my 1st grader and soon he'll be able to read it himself. We read a chapter a night and it kept him interested.

[Brianna Allman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had never read the Boxcar Children series growing up, so I was pleasantly surprised to see how much was packed into this book and that some history was included in it as well. I like that it also teaches about the importance of family.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting one. The children meet a family who moves in next door, with two boys. They all get together to build a tree house, and in the process, find a locked room and settle a family feud of sorts. They have to do a lot of sleuthing to figure it all out!

[Savani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems like Henry and Jessie are being eased out of the stories. Or, at least have the younger siblings be more active. Sometimes a bit repetitive. I was hoping for the original family to come back and retrieve their family’s items.

[Kristiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benny calls the kids next door “dumb” because they don’t seem to like to do things. Grandfather calls out his behavior as he’s normally kind. He later takes it back.

Later in the book, he calls himself dumb.

[Adam Carman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites of the old ones. It shows the Aldens at their friendliest, welcoming, but also savvy as they engage in research to run down clues. It also brings me back to a happier time in life. Thank you, Gertrude Chandler Warner.

[Annie Flanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore all the Boxcar Children books.

This book is about a tree house - and a missing spyglass - and about two brothers who had not spoken for many years - but end up reuniting.

I love Gertrude Chandler Warner's writings. Hopefully at some point I will be able to read all the books.