The Animal Shelter Mystery

The Boxcar Children #22

by Gertrude Chandler Warner, Charles Tang (Illustrator)

The Alden children save an old woman's house, land, and all the animals in her animal shelter from greedy contractors.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Juvenile, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Animals

121 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

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

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book good for 7 and up!I love animals it has a great ending! So Mrs Newcobe is on a trip and 3 men are going to destroy it but can the Aldens find Mrs Newcobe before Tuesday?
Very exciting eager kind pet book!😍! Please read u would love it!!!!!!!

[Octavia Cade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if this is my favourite Boxcar mystery, but if it isn't, it's very close to it. I think it may be the closest in spirit to the original novel, anyway. The kids are volunteers at a local animal shelter, and the two elder ones have part time jobs (one helps in a shop, the other has a paper route), and they're constantly making things from the resources they have - cobbling together a cat cage out of an old fruit box and some wire screening, for instance. They are therefore far more appealing to read about than the entitled brat versions of themselves that, in a previous book, begged their grandad to buy them a lighthouse so they could spend a few weeks of summer there.

Similarly, going back to basics has also made them much more pleasant in that they're less nosy. It's still a mystery, they still take an interest in people's lives, but it's as if they're genuinely trying to help rather than intruding because they're bored and have no manners. As I said: ten times more appealing! And I'm predisposed to like this mystery anyway, as lost pets keep turning up in advance of an animal shelter being shut down, and so of course the kids want to help, and their determination to help look after the animals is well done and sympathetic.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this on audio at the request of my 4 year old for an audiobook. It is my first experience with a Boxcar book, and I enjoyed it. Sweet story.

[Steph Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The boys gave this a 5. This was their first Boxcar Children book and they’re hooked. They love mysteries.

[Shireen Hakim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best in the series. They should have more books about animals.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the historical records angle on this one. Inspiring budding little researchers!

[Nick Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eva: You should read this book. There were so many dogs in it. I like dogs. I didn’t like that they were going to break the house.

Judah: I didn’t like the bad people. I liked the kids in the books. They found the missing lady. And I like that there were a bunch of cats.

Nick: The boxcar children are at their finest as they solve another mystery in town. This one got intense with some sketchy characters that put us on edge. We weren’t sure that all of our beloved Aldens were going to make it to the end alive, and the animal shelter seemed to be at the end of its road. But the kids saved the day again! If only my own kids behaved as well as these orphaned children who have practically raised themselves! I’m ready for another one…a boxcar book that is (and another child I suppose).

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the Boxcar Children always takes me back to my childhood. This was a new book for me and I loved the story of the kids mysteriously finding animals, putting their boxcar to good use as a temporary animal shelter, and of course solving a mystery. Always a quick read to fit in between other books.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

First the children find a cat with a note on their porch. On their way to the animal shelter where they volunteer, they meet a mother and son who have found a dog. They find both the dog and cat belong to an older lady in the town, but when they go to her house, no one is there and they are nearly run over by some mean men in a pickup. They meet the same men later, buying dynamite in a store where Henry works. At the shelter, the doctor tells them that the shelter is going to close, but she is trying to reach the founder to find out why and try to keep it open. The children volunteer to let some of the shelter animals stay in their boxcar, until the problem is solved. Now they have two mysteries to solve - what happened to the cat's owner and why must the shelter close?

This is not one of the 19 books written by Warner herself. Apparently the authors of this and all the following books don't get any credit!

[Bethanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

We tried the Oasis Audio book too and suddenly Benny sounds like a toddler still learning to form the l sound, which was not present in any other we had listened to. The overall story was okay - who doesn't love animal rescue? - but it's not our favorite (daughter and I) for a few reasons. I discovered the original author died before this was written and the children were permanently reverted by ghostwriters to ages 14, 12, 10, and 6 in order to appeal to the original target audience, but it seems like we are starting a whole new series. We haven't decided whether to continue and there are over 100 books worn in the new floating timeline. The ghostwritten books just don't seem the same as the original beloved series from my youth and the children never grow up. I'll leave it up to my daughter, but I could take them or leave them at this point. She loves the characters but was pretty critical of the changes.

[Nader Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy and heartwarming installment in the Boxcar Children series. I was hooked from the very first chapter, mainly because I love animals, and the story focus on finding a safe place for them made the stakes feel personal and touching.

The characters are just as likable and balanced as always, keeping the familiar charm of the series. The writing is simple, smooth, and easy to get through, exactly the kind of style that makes these books feel cozy and comforting

The plot is definitely on the simpler side, but it still had several enjoyable moments that kept me engaging.

A warm, pleasant, and enjoyable read, perfect if you want something light, cozy, and filled with animals.
********************************
Verdict
(7.5/10)

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 22 of the Boxcar Children series. I enjoyed this fun little mystery​. There was not just one thing, but all together it just worked for me. Even the final twist was not horribly unpredictable. This was a solid story and I recommend it as representative of the series. If you’ve never read one, this will give you a good middle of the road.

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mysteries are certainly twinged with a bit more danger, and you can tell that other authors are penning the stories. They still make for excellent adventures and problem solving. These books keep to the classic focus of the original 19 stories and have heart and family values and helping others as a forefront in every story to come.

[Angel Mouser · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can definitely see how the series is changing with new authors. There are more instances of mysteries involving criminal intent, rather than simple childhood curiosities being solved. Not a bad thing, just an observation.

[Natalia Horzempa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I loved it amazing it was awesome it was Exelent

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the later Boxcar Children books. This one is a little darker than the earlier stories which were all lighthearted and positive no matter what was going on.

[Rebecca Crawshaw]

I have very good memories of these books from childhood. I don’t know that they translate very well to today’s kids. A bit of a throwback for me 😊

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book!

[Ann's Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comfort read even for a teenager like me☺️

[Noelani · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 3/4 stars.

[Charles Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

81%

I'm liking the gritty new stuff, not all that interested in this story though

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great installment! Even as a kid, I tended to enjoy the stories that had a small element of danger to them, and this one fit that bill. A good read.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn’t so much a mystery, but a case of poor paperwork management.

[Abby · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Boxcar Children trespass on a neighbor's property, get involved in legal matters way over their heads, and forget about pets they had in previous books. 2/5

[Cherish Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

(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. Would recommend.

[Reving · Rating 1 out of 5]

https://revingsblog.blogspot.com/2019...

[Kaetlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that the Alden's are helping out at the animal shelter. There are always new animals. I don't like that the animal shelter has to be closed because the land it is on is to be sold. The animal shelter and a house are going to be sold. I like that the Alden's fin.d the person that owns the house and the land the animal shelter was on.

[Partridge Public]

Warner, Gertrude C. PB

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Animal Shelter Mystery is a good mysterious book about 4 kids trying to solve an animal mystery!