The Mystery in San Francisco

The Boxcar Children #57

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

While sightseeing in San Francisco, the Boxcar children uncover a mystery involving fishing boats and sabotage

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

119 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

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

[Tyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one if the better mysteries. Living in the Bay Area made it really fun to read. My daughter loved readying about all the places she has been.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Mystery in San Francisco" takes the Boxcar Children to the vibrant and bustling city of San Francisco, where they become entangled in a perplexing case affecting the local fishing community. The Aldens are on a sightseeing trip when they discover that someone is sabotaging the fishermen by cutting their nets and causing other forms of mischief. Determined to help, the children set out to uncover who is behind these malicious acts before the fishermen are forced to stop working altogether.

The main characters, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden, each bring their unique skills to the investigation. Henry, the eldest, is the natural leader, using his practicality and resourcefulness to guide the group. His asset is his ability to think logically, but his flaw is his occasional impatience. Jessie is the intelligent and organized one, meticulously gathering and analyzing clues. Her asset is her sharp mind, but her flaw is her tendency to overthink things. Violet is the sensitive and observant member, noticing details that others miss. Her asset is her artistic eye, but her flaw is her timidity. Benny, the youngest, is enthusiastic and energetic, always eager to explore and help. His asset is his boundless curiosity, but his flaw is his impulsiveness.

The relationships between the Alden children are pivotal to their success. They support each other, leveraging their individual strengths to overcome challenges. Their strong bond and mutual trust enable them to work seamlessly as a team. The plot is driven forward by their collective determination to solve the mystery and their unwavering commitment to helping those in need.

The tone of the novel is adventurous and engaging, capturing the excitement of exploring a new city while maintaining a sense of suspense as the children delve deeper into the mystery. Warner skillfully creates an atmosphere of intrigue, with the Aldens encountering various suspects and uncovering hidden motives. A major plot twist involves the discovery that the culprit is someone close to the fishing community, adding a layer of personal betrayal to the mystery.

One of the central themes explored in the book is the importance of community and helping others. The Alden children demonstrate compassion and a strong sense of justice as they work to protect the livelihoods of the San Francisco fishermen. Another theme is the value of perseverance and determination. Despite facing obstacles and setbacks, the children never give up on their quest to uncover the truth. The novel also highlights the significance of understanding and respecting different cultures, as the Aldens learn about the traditions and challenges of the fishing community.

In closing, "The Mystery in San Francisco" is a captivating and heartwarming story that will appeal to young readers who enjoy adventure and mystery. If you enjoyed this book, I recommend reading other books in the Boxcar Children series, as well as "The Happy Hollisters" series by Jerry West or "Nancy Drew" series by Carolyn Keene for more exciting and engaging mysteries.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The children are visiting Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy in San Francisco. They go to Fisherman's Wharf, where Andy's friend Charlie invites them aboard his fishing boat. Charlie's luck has not been good lately, and strange things are happening around the wharf. The children decide to try to find out who is causing all the trouble for Charlie and his helper, Kate. When Kate turns up in a couple of unexpected places, they get even more suspicious.

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 57 of the Boxcar Children. Sabotage and mysterious figures abound in this novel. Charlie is having some bad luck that is more than bad luck. Can the Alden children solve the case before poor Charlie is forced out of business? So many strange characters and shady conversations it is obvious that something is going on. Super fun novel and a delight to read. ​

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

[Kristi L Pasqual · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great 👍

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Alden children solve a mystery in San Francisco while visiting with their Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy

[Dante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable children’s mystery, reminds me of scooby do but without the dog lol I would introduces this to young readers.

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the setting of this book, and the mystery was interesting.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun one; the mystery was not as easy for the reader to solve, with lots of suspects.

[Isabel Sasine · Rating 5 out of 5]

audible

[Partridge Public]

Warner, Gertrude C. PB

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

great when ur little

[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 :)

[Rose]

JF War