The Castle Mystery #36 (Boxcar Children

The Boxcar Children #36

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. The Alden children have another mystery to solve when they visit a castle and must figure out which of the guests has stolen the Stradivarius violin.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Chapter Books, Graphic Novels, Classics, Adventure

128 pages, School & Library Binding

First published January 1, 1993

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

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

The four Alten kid and their grandfather are going to help an old friend of his, who has landed a gig restoring historic Drummond Castle. The kids are excited to help with the cleaning and repairs, though more excited to be visiting a real castle with a real cave in the cliff underneath it. The people already in the castle, though, except for their grandfather's friend, pretty much give the kids the cold shoulder and try to get rid of them as much as possible. There are rumors that a valuable Stradivarius has gone missing, so the kids determine to find it. Two guesses as to whether they do, and the first guess doesn't count.

I adored the first book in this series when I was a kid, but had never read any of the mysteries that followed so I thought I'd give one a try. I don't know if I would have enjoyed it as a kid--probably, considering I adored the Famous Five series--but it didn't do much for me now. The characters they met at the castle might as well have been named Suspect #1, Suspect #2, and Suspect #3, and everything here was about a subtle as a train wreck. Plus I listened to it as an audiobook, and while the added sound effects were an interesting touch (not really necessary), why in the name of all that's literary did the narrator give the 6 year old boy the voice of GILBERT GOTTFRIED. I am seriously not kidding. He sounded like a total cartoony joke and it ruined any interest I might have in the character. So, not a winner.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best boxcar children books I have ever read. I highly recommend this series.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kids visit a spooky castle where spooky things happen.

Your basic ghost breaking, but still entertaining.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boxcar Children are at it again!!! There grandfather is taking them to and old castle were one of his friends works. As the Boxcar Children wind up the mountain to the castle, they see that one of the castles towers lights are on, but when they get there they find out that the tower that they saw the light in is of limits. Then they found out that when the owner of the castle died, his violin went missing. But with the Boxcar Children they'll surely find the violin...... right?

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grandfather takes the children to a deserted castle where his friend Carrie is in charge of cleaning it up, organizing the contents, and setting it up as a museum. The children are there to help, and are soon put to work. Two other people on the staff are unfriendly and act a bit suspicious - a young man who is supposed to be an antiques assessor, and a young woman who was sent by the castle trust as staff because she knows so much about the castle itself, but who spends most of her time wandering around the castle and never finishing a job. There is also the old man who has been the caretaker for many years, and is not happy about all the changes going on. One of the towers is closed off and no one is supposed to go there, but the children keep seeing lights in it from time to time. The story also involves a lost valuable Stradivarius violin, which Benny is determined to find. Before it is over, others others are involved, including the police - enough excitement to satisfy even Benny.
This is one of the many written by someone other than Warner, and it shows a bit - just a bit over the top with all the goings-on.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic and well acclaimed series, recommended as a great series for young readers. The Boxcar Children invoke the enjoyment for mystery-solving and having a close relationship with family.

The mysteries are certainly twinged with a bit more danger now, 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.

The children are all oh-so-friendly to each other and those they meet. They seem to agree about mostly everything; their world seems to be made of butterflies and rainbows. The times of this book being written to present day are vastly different.

[Priyadarshni Palanikumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back to the one book I had read in this series before Goodreads happened to me! It was awesome as usual.

The Boxcar children with their grandfather visit a friend of his who's helping to restore an old castle into a museum. Strange fellow helpers and stranger phenomena all un-nerve the children, but, with their grandfather's support, they carry on. Slowly falling in love with the beautiful castle, they restore some shine into the place. But, a missing famous violin intrigues Benny and he resolves to find it. Little does he know, that he's not the only one looking for the Stradivarius.

Beautiful setting, and just intriguing characters in this book!

[Adam Carman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread for a trip down childhood's memory lane. One of the better mass produced Boxcar Children books with some actual stakes in it where the children actually find themselves in danger. Funny note: I remember getting this for my 10th birthday and one of the main characters is named Tom Brady. The name meant nothing to us then!

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 33 of the Boxcar Children. This was a fun fast paced mystery with plenty of suspects and lots of motives. The reveal was perfect and a secret passageway was an awesome addition.

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com

[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 they can bring out the best in other characters, once those characters get to know them. Would recommend.

[Kasey Loftis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this one. I loved the setting of the castle in this one. Some of the characters were awful and it was a little annoying that Sandy just ended up being who she was, because she was very unlikable throughout the entire book.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great children's book. I was really impressed that each chapter left you wanting to read the next. My 7 year old and I both enjoyed!

[Isla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love scary things!

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan of this narrator, but it made me laugh that Tom Brady is the bad guy.

[Norma Shoemaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 2nd graders loved it!

[Charles Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

67%

It's a disappointing book, it ends very abruptly.

[Angie Davern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books for just an easy read! Wish I had read them to my children when they were small!!

[Rachel]

The kiddos enjoyed it! It was tough to get our hands on a copy of this one, which added to their enjoyment in the end 🤪

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the setting for this one!

[Wyatt Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good book if you like mystery. It is about these kids Henry, Benny, Violet, and Jesse. They go to this castle to visit their aunt who is helping clean out the castle. This person named Tom Brady is trying to steal the special violin that the main owner owned. But they think he is secretly bad and they think he has the violin, so they are tracking Tom down to try to find him and take the violin.
The kids went on an adventure to find the violin but they found Tom Brady holding the violin, Tom lied to them and said this isn't the violin that your looking for. Tom had been waiting to get out of the castle with the violin. Later they found out that the violin was the one they were looking for.
I don't like that it is more of a kid book. Its not a really long book. I recommend you to read this book it is a good book. It is not the best book but it a still a decent book.

[Sy Ewoniuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read The Boxcar Children the Castle Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner. I finished this book on 12/15/12. This book is a mystery. What I liked about this book is that it kept me on my heels. There were always twists and turns and it was really suspenseful. All through the story there were mysterious lights coming from a tower in the castle that was supposed to be blocked off because it suffered damage many years ago. Also they were hearing sweet violin music coming from nowhere. There were weird faces appearing in windows then disappearing. I would use the words amazing, suspenseful, and cool. Yes I would read more books by this author. I’m going to read 1 more book by her this quarter. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes kids and mysteries.

[Isaac Casanova · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated this book four stars because I like mystery and if your like me then you will like this book to. They have to go and clean up a castle and well their doing that they see faces in windows and hear sounds and figure out secret passage ways. Im pretty sure that you will like this book so read it and find out what the faces and sounds are!!!

[Hhcall · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of the original Boxcar Children series where Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny embark,independently, on various adventures, but this graphic novel was poorly done. It was difficult to follow the story line, and the characters were poorly developed. I know there has been a recent surge of popularity of graphic novels, but this one is not worth your time.

[Shiloh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the interesting things that happened. The mystery was who took the violin. Tom, Sandy and Mr. Tooner were suspects. I know which one is the one who was guilt of taking the violin. I liked the pictures and the story, and it was very easy for me to understand.

[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 :)

I particularly liked this one, but I don't remember if that was because the mystery was good, or if I just liked the castle :P

[Melissa Namba · Rating 3 out of 5]

what's not fun about a castle. a cute book but the criminal was pretty obvious even to children. this is more realistic than other books because grandpa actually stays with them rather than abandoning them in some city as he is wont to do.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

great when ur little

[Quincton R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book i really enjoyed it. I was really surprised when i found out who it was. You wouldn't really expect it to be the person it was.

[Jaeger Matthias · Rating 5 out of 5]

mystery wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!!!!!!

[Ashley Kohls · Rating 3 out of 5]

New take on the classic Boxcar Children story in graphic novel format.