The Mystery of the Tiger's Eye

The Boxcar Children Special #17

by Gertrude Chandler Warner (Creator)

Grandfather's college roommate, Edward, has spent years collecting toys, gadgets, and rides from carnivals and state fairs. When the Boxcar Children visit Edward, his mansion seems like a toy-filled paradise for the Boxcar Children. But they soon discover that something is very wrong in the old house. Strange music plays in empty rooms, machines turn themselves on and off, and furniture moves itself from room to room. When the Boxcar Children find out that the world’s most famous magician once performed there, they begin to wonder―could Edward’s house be haunted by the ghost of Harry Houdini?

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

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 4 out of 5]

I read this book on Scribd.com. Despite having a slightly implausible character in the plot, I find this a quick and light read.

SYNOPSIS: "Grandfather's college roommate, Edward, has spent years collecting toys, gadgets, and rides from carnivals and state fairs. When the Boxcar Children visit Edward, his mansion seems like a toy-filled paradise for them. But they soon discover that something is very wrong in the old house. Machines turn themselves on and off, and furniture moves itself from room to room.

When the Boxcar Children find out that the world’s most famous magician once performed there, they begin to wonder—could Edward’s house be haunted by the ghost of Harry Houdini?"

[Andrea Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgia. That’s what I felt the entire time I was reading this book. See, The Boxcar Children were a key part of my childhood, back in the ’90s, and I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed their mystery-solving skills and fun personalities. I’m glad I read this book, and I hope to read more of their adventures soon!

[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. I like how there is more than one possible suspect, who each have reasonable motive. Would recommend.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was a little creepy, so don't read it at night.

[Ewelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so mysterious!This was the first(and only) "BOXCAR CHILDREN" book I ever read!(I know Tyra,you can't believe me but,I don't have many of them and I will start reading them soon)

[Mustang · Rating 5 out of 5]

i liked this book because there were a lot of suspects.i atualy suspected edward!i also liked it because benny solved the mystery of what harry houdini left behind.

[Laura Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry Houdini and magic acts are always mysterious. This Boxcar Children combines the elements of magic, illusion and haunting for an entertaining mystery.

[Rebecca]

One of my favorite childhood series. I read all the books I could get my hands on :)