The Boxcar Children

"The Boxcar Children" is a children's literary franchise originally created and written by American writer and first-grade school teacher [cite web |url=http://www.awhitmanco.com/index.cfm?CategoryID=129 |title=About Gertrude Chandler Warner
accessdate=2008-03-06] Gertrude Chandler Warner and which today includes well over 100 titles. The series is aimed at middle readers in Grades 2-6.

Originally published in 1942, the original "The Boxcar Children" novel tells the story of four orphaned children who run away from their grandfather and start a new life of independence in an abandoned boxcar. Eventually they are reunited with their grandfather. Subsequent stories follow the further adventures of the titular children and their various adventures.

Only the first 19 stories were written by creator Warner. Other books in the series have been created by other writers, but always feature the byline "Created by Gertrude Chandler Warner".

Plot Summary of the First Novel

The first book tells the story of four children: Henry James Alden, 14; Jessie Alden, 12; Violet Alden, 10; Benny Alden, 4 (and 6 in books not by Gertrude Chandler Warner); and their dog Watch. Upon the death of their mother and father, their grandfather assumes custody of the children, but they run away because they believe him to be cruel. Finding an abandoned boxcar, they start a new life of independence. A man named Dr. Moore, who lives in a nearby city, hires Henry to do jobs around his home, such as mowing the lawn and organizing his garage. With the help of Henry's income and living off the land, the children are able to take care of themselves until Violet becomes ill and they must go to Dr. Moore for assistance.

Earlier in the novel, Dr. Moore has read in the newspaper that a man named James Alden was offering a $5,000 reward for anyone who can locate his four lost grandchildren. When Violet is taken ill, Dr. Moore finally contacts James Alden, who arrives just after the children bring in Violet for treatment. Not wanting to frighten the children into running away again, their grandfather referred to himself as Mr. Henry (Henry being his middle name). Not knowing that the man was their "cruel" grandfather, the children warm to his kindness and are surprised but delighted when Dr. Moore reveals to them that he is their grandfather. After moving in with their grandfather, Mr. Alden moves the boxcar to his backyard for their enjoyment.

Main Characters

Henry Alden: Is the oldest brother, 14 years old, Warner's books 16 (was in college). In the Mystery on Ice, he had a crush on a skater named Alex. This is shown when he first sees her he stares at her for a long time, and Benny is amazed. Then, later, when the children suspect her, Henry quickly says no.

Jessie Alden: Twelve years old and oldest sister, fourteen in Warner's books. In the Mystery of the Purple Pool, she had a crush on Mike.

Benny Alden: Youngest, 6 years old (In the Missing Cat, 5, and 4 and 7 in Gertrude Chandler Warner's stories)

Violet Alden: 10 years old, 12 in Warner's books

Watch: Dog of Boxcar children

Grandfather: Grandpa of Boxcar children

econdary Characters

Soo Lee: The Aldens' cousin from Korea. She is 7 years old. She was adopted by Joe and Alice.

Mrs. McGregor: The Aldens' housekeeper. Her husband was first seen in the Yellow House Mystery.

Joe and Alice: The children's cousins. They were first seen and married in the Yellow House Mystery, and have Soo Lee as an adopted child. They found a home in the Mystery of the Singing Ghost.

Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy: The children's other uncle and aunt.

About the Series

The series involves the children solving various mysteries, and occasionally traveling to other locations as they do so.

The series are divided into mysteries and specials; all of the specials were written after Warner's death. As of 2008, there are 115 mysteries and 22? specials in the series, with the most recent mysteries being #114, "A Horse named Dragon", and #115, "The Great Detective Race".

About the Author

Warner's life was chronicled in the biography "Gertrude Chandler Warner and the Boxcar Children" [cite web |url=http://www.awhitmanco.com/index.cfm?ContentAlias=bookdetail&itemid=108&ocid=43 |title=Gertrude Chandler Warner and the Boxcar Children at Albert Whitman & Company |accessdate=2008-03-06] by Mary Ellen Ellsworth, illustrated by Marie DeJohn, which tells the story of Warner's childhood living across the street from the railroad tracks, her bouts with poor health, her teaching career, her earliest attempts at writing and her inspiration for The Boxcar Children. [cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA231361.html |title=Children's Notes, Boxcar Children Redux
accessdate=2008-03-06]

In July 2004, a museum in Putnam, Connecticut was opened in a red boxcar to honor Gertrude Warner and the Boxcar Children series. She is buried in Grove Street Cemetery, Putnam, Connecticut.

As she wrote the story, Warner read it 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, so The Boxcar Children gave them a fun story that was easy to read. Warner once wrote that the original book "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!"

List of Boxcar Children novels

Note that these are only the books in the main series. For descriptions and info on the series for younger readers and the Specials, see main | List of Boxcar Children books
# "The Boxcar Children"
# "Surprise Island"
# "The Yellow House Mystery"
# "Mystery Ranch"
# "Mike's Mystery"
# "Blue Bay Mystery"
# "The Woodshed Mystery"
# "The Lighthouse Mystery"
# "Mountain Top Mystery"
# "Schoolhouse Mystery"
# "Caboose Mystery"
# "Houseboat Mystery"
# "Snowbound Mystery"
# "Tree House Mystery"
# "Bicycle Mystery"
# "Mystery in the Sand"
# "Mystery Behind the Wall"
# "Bus Station Mystery"
# "Benny Uncovers a Mystery"
# "The Haunted Cabin Mystery"
# "The Deserted Library Mystery"
# "The Animal Shelter Mystery"
# "The Old Motel Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Hidden Painting"
# "The Amusement Park Mystery "
# "The Mystery of the Mixed-Up Zoo"
# "The Camp-Out Mystery"
# "The Mystery Girl"
# "The Mystery Cruise"
# "The Disappearing Friend Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Singing Ghost"
# "The Mystery in the Snow"
# "The Pizza Mystery"
# "The Mystery Horse"
# "The Mystery at the Dog Show"
# "The Castle Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Lost Village"
# "The Mystery of the Purple Pool"
# "The Ghost Ship Mystery"
# "The Canoe Trip Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Hidden Beach"
# "The Mystery of the Missing Cat"
# "The Mystery on Stage"
# "The Dinosaur Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Stolen Music"
# "The Chocolate Sundae Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Hot Air Balloon"
# "The Mystery Bookstore"
# "The Mystery of the Stolen Boxcar"
# "Mystery in the Cave"
# "The Mystery on the Train"
# "The Mystery of the Lost Mine"
# "The Guide Dog Mystery"
# "The Hurricane Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Secret Message"
# "The Firehouse Mystery"
# "The Mystery in San Francisco"
# "The Mystery at the Alamo"
# "The Outer Space Mystery"
# "The Soccer Mystery"
# "The Growling Bear Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Lake Monster"
# "The Mystery at Peacock Hall"
# "The Black Pearl Mystery"
# "The Cereal Box Mystery"
# "The Panther Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Stolen Sword"
# "The Basketball Mystery"
# "The Movie Star Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Pirate's Map"
# "The Ghost Town Mystery"
# "The Mystery in the Mall"
# "The Gymnastics Mystery"
# "The Poison Frog Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Empty Safe"
# "The Great Bicycle Race Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Wild Ponies"
# "The Mystery in the Computer Game"
# "The Mystery at the Crooked House"
# "The Hockey Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Midnight Dog"
# "The Summer Camp Mystery"
# "The Copycat Mystery"
# "The Haunted Clock Tower Mystery"
# "The Disappearing Staircase Mystery"
# "The Mystery on Blizzard Mountain"
# "The Mystery of the Spider's Clue"
# "The Mystery of the Mummy's Curse"
# "The Mystery of the Star Ruby"
# "The Stuffed Bear Mystery"
# "The Mystery at Skeleton Point"
# "The Tattletale Mystery"
# "The Comic Book Mystery"
# "The Ice Cream Mystery"
# "The Midnight Mystery"
# "The Mystery in the Fortune Cookie"
# "The Radio Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Runaway Ghost"
# "The Finders Keepers Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Haunted Boxcar"
# "The Clue in the Corn Maze"
# "The Ghost of the Chattering Bones"
# "The Sword of the Silver Knight"
# "The Game Store Mystery"
# "The Mystery of the Orphan Train"
# "The Vanishing Passenger"
# "The Giant Yo-Yo Mystery"
# "The Creature in Ogopogo Lake"
# "The Rock 'n' Roll Mystery"
# "The Secret of the Mask"
# "The Seattle Puzzle"
# "The Ghost in the Front Row"
# "The Box That Watch Found"
# "A Horse named Dragon
# "The Great Detective Race
# The Ghost at the Drive-In Movie

References

ee also

* Gertrude Chandler Warner
* List of Boxcar Children books