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The Boxcar Children #2
Surprise Island
Four brave siblings were searching for a home – and found a life of adventure! Join the Boxcar Children as they investigate the mystery of Surprise Island in the second book in this illustrated chapter book series beloved by generations of readers.
The Aldens spend the summer on Grandfather's island! Joe, the island's friendly handyman, helps them with anything they need, but as the children continue to explore their summer home, they realize there is more to the island—and to their new friend—than meets the eye.
What started as a single story about the Alden Children has delighted readers for generations and sold more than 80 million books worldwide. Featuring timeless adventures, mystery, and suspense, The Boxcar Children® series continues to inspire children to learn, question, imagine, and grow.
The Aldens spend the summer on Grandfather's island! Joe, the island's friendly handyman, helps them with anything they need, but as the children continue to explore their summer home, they realize there is more to the island—and to their new friend—than meets the eye.
What started as a single story about the Alden Children has delighted readers for generations and sold more than 80 million books worldwide. Featuring timeless adventures, mystery, and suspense, The Boxcar Children® series continues to inspire children to learn, question, imagine, and grow.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1949
666 people are currently reading
3058 people want to read
About the author
Gertrude Chandler Warner
565 books752 followersGertrude 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/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 625 reviews
September 6, 2012
I was going to read Surprise Island, and then comment on it, but every page is such a treasure trove of clichés, naïveté, and ridiculousness, that I think I might have to grace you with a running commentary.
Chapter One: The First Surprise
The book begins with Grandfather lovingly telling his grandchildren that he bought them an island, *cough* I mean, his father bought an island a long time ago, and they can stay there ALL SUMMER. He’d visit, but he’s just too busy.
Grandfather: (Shrug.) “But boy, I sure will miss you kids. It will be ever so quiet without Benny crying about milk and Watch barking at every gosh darn squirrel in the yard, and Henry constantly hammering on his next woodworking project” (a bookcase that leans crookedly to one side and can only support the weight of a few magazines).
Grandfather cleverly threw away all the supplies usually kept at the island, so his heirs will have the fun of buying all new things. The highlight of this chapter is when Grandfather tells them not to spend too much money, and they all laugh uproariously because they are fantastically wealthy and can buy anything they desire! Mwuhahaha!
Jessie harps on about bread and milk, which must be some symbolic thread that runs through all the books that I am just not picking up on, because otherwise I’m not sure why it needs to be mentioned in every chapter. Did Gertrude’s family own a bread and milk conglomerate? Because, stop me if I’m wrong, but despite Jessie’s many exaltations to the contrary, bread and milk are NOT adequate nutritional staples to live on. I love that she claims that they can live on bread and milk, ‘even if there’s nothing else to eat.’ It’s like she already has a sneaking suspicion that Grandfather is going to dump them on a deserted island and collect the insurance money.
Grandfather has kindly arranged a chaperone for the children, a Captain Daniel, who has acquired a possibly deranged young man as a roommate. Despite the fact that there is a seemingly perfectly serviceable empty house on the island, Grandfather commands that the children sleep in the barn. Which of course THRILLS them, because what do orphans love more than sleeping on scratchy piles of pine straw? Scratchy piles of hay of course! Henry is delighted by the large amount of scrap wood left behind by ‘workmen,’ which he can use for all his ‘woodworking projects.’ And of course there is cold water nearby, so everyone is pretty stoked.
Chapter Two: Housekeeping
Henry’s old friend Dr. Moore goes by and checks out the mysterious itinerant stranger that lives with the Captain. I guess solely because someone has to be a responsible adult and make sure they aren’t leaving four prepubescent teens with a serial killer. Dr. Moore is easily satisfied with ‘Joe’s’ tale of digging for Indian stuff and falling off a cliff and getting amnesia, because that all sounds pretty plausible. Joe even tells him his secret identity, which must be a doozy, because Dr. Moore agrees to deceive the whole family. I am desperately hoping that Joe will be revealed as Grandfather’s love child, or the orphans’ secret older brother, or even royalty forced to assume a peasant ruse to protect himself from an evil queen.
But who are we kidding? It’s probably just someone’s cousin that dropped out of college or something equally boring with zero reason for being a secret.
Grandfather is almost concerned about the hobo living with his grandchildren, but the lure of a kid-free summer filled with hookers and blow wipes any objections from his mind.
The group goes back to the mainland because Benny is all in a froth to ‘buy things.’ I like to think of him running down the aisles of the Pottery Barn, blindly grasping anything off the shelf to satiate his consumerist frenzy. It’s kind of disheartening how quickly these children have evolved from orphans satisfied by trips to the dump, to possession-driven machines. They decide that their school clothes are ‘too nice’ to wear exploring the island, so they have to buy new clothes. Specifically to get them dirty. Ugh, rich people logic.
Grandfather almost panics when Henry tries to once again convince him to come along. I actually laughed aloud here:
“He knew the children would not go at all unless he were careful. ‘I wouldn’t go with you if I could. I need a little rest without any children or dogs around.’
Sly like a fox Granfather. Tread carefully, or you might not be able to convince them to leave. The kids try to pretend that he is kidding, imagining some sort of twinkle in his eye, but deep down, they know they are just lying to themselves.
The rest of the chapter is taken up with the children washing their dishes and discussing the ubiquitous bread and milk.
Chapter Three: The Garden
Shockingly, Henry discovers a garden in this chapter. He meets ‘Joe’ the handyman for the first time, and learns that Grandfather has forced Captain Daniel to cultivate two gardens, so that Henry can have his very own to muck around in and pretend to grow things. It’s mid-summer, so literally everything in the garden is already planted and ready to harvest, but the children still enjoy pretending like they had something to do with this end result. Several scintillating pages are devoted to the girls shelling the peas, and Henry building a ‘dish cupboard,’ which I’m pretty sure consists of nailing two crates together. Then the kids eat the peas.
Chapter Four: Clamming
Because we haven’t gotten enough about food and it’s preparation in the previous chapters, now we get to read about the orphans digging out clams. After that educational program, the group goes swimming, where once again they encounter ‘Joe.’ I’m sure he’s not following them or anything. He tricks Benny into going into the deep water, which everyone considers to be a good thing. Flush with his success integrating himself into the children’s confidences, he foolishly makes a grave mistake identifying flora for Violet. This sets off alarm bells for Henry, because how would a handyman, who does menial jobs for low pay, know such scientific terms, like, “red seaweed,” and “green seaweed,” and “brown seaweed??” As he falls asleep, Henry muses his suspicions to himself.
“That handy man knew an awful lot about seaweed for an uneducated rube. And he knows a lot of colors.”
Better watch out ‘Joe.’ There’s no getting things past Henry.
Chapter Five: Summer Plan
The gang takes a break from eating to explore the island. After finding such exotic treasures as rocks, flowers, and shells, Henry has the brilliant idea that they should make their own museum. All of them tell him how brilliant this is.
Actually this is something I can see myself probably really enjoying as a kid, but I also read The Boxcar Children books all the time. So my thoughts are suspect.
Violet helpfully makes a list of what they should collect for the museum:
1) Rocks
2) Flowers
3) Shells
You know, so they won’t forget.
‘Joe’ is going to town, so the kids ask him to pick up some library books about rocks, flowers, and shells because learning is fun.
This results in a PLOT TWIST where we the reader learn that ‘Joe’ doesn’t even need to ask the librarian for help finding books because he already knows bunches of science books.
Based on all the heavy handed foreshadowing about ‘Joe’s’ scientific knowledge I am guessing he is either a mad scientist or a teacher.
Chapter Six: The Museum
Disappointingly, I now find all of ‘Joe’s’ scientific acumen to be suspect, since the book titles that he so suspiciously needed no librarian assistance to find are:
The Flower Book.
The Shell Book.
The Butterfly Book
Henry is again very suspicious of ‘Joe’s’ superior rock, flower, and shell knowledge.
Henry: (to himself). “This ‘Joe’ character seems to be having a very easy time identifying these rocks, flowers, and shells. He must be very intelligent to be able to look them up in the books that he brought, compare the object to the picture, and tell what it is. I don’t believe a regular handyman would possess such skills.”
While Henry is straining his mental faculties, the others are preparing the museum. There’s another heavy-handed hint of ‘Joe’s’ mystery identity when we learn that he receives two daily newspapers. Don’t worry Henry. He probably just uses them to wrap fish in.
Grandfather sends the children sweaters as a gift. Violet’s turns out to be *spoiler alert* purple, and she internally sighs with repressed disappointment. Jessie takes this as a sign that the weather will soon get cold and then it does. I am kind of wondering if the children are living in a kind of biodome controlled by Grandfather. If some sort of Hunger Games break out I’m not going to complain.
It rains during the night and the roof leaks. Henry has to stay up all night to empty the buckets when they fill up, because it would be inconceivable to let them overfill and ruin the nice dirt floor of the barn that they are living in. Benny complains about his bed being ruined, and I have to restrain myself from reminding him that his bed is a pile of hay. It has mice poop in it. Shut your trap Benny and GO BACK TO SLEEP.
The next morning it is still raining, and Henry has a conundrum. He can’t go out in the rain in the clothes he’s wearing because they’ll get wet. He won’t be able to change into his other clothes because they’re already wet from Jessie washing them. (I almost suggested to Henry that he could just wear his slightly damp clothes since they are immediately going to get wet anyway, but I knew no one would listen to me.)
Jessie and Henry decide the best way to solve this dilemma is to cut up all their blankets and make Henry a new outfit. Princess Consuela suggested to me that perhaps they came up with this plan so that Violet would have the joy of then turning the pants back into a blanket, seeing as she hasn’t gotten to hem anything so far. But I think that is way overestimating the intelligence of these children. Benny finally speaks up to point out that Henry could just wear his swimsuit, and then they could keep the blanket, for, you know, sleeping purposes or something.
It’s a sad day when your six-year-old little brother is the voice of reason.
Chapter Seven: Exploring
After breakfast (we are spared the preparation detail), the crew goes exploring. Violet brings her sketchbook, because she paints now. I get the feeling that Violet is going to be cast as the Sensitive Artist character, what with her needlepoint, and painting, and general quiet reflection on where her life went wrong (clue: when she agreed to run away with her siblings and live in an empty train).
They quickly find a huge pile of clamshells, which is a big deal apparently. Then they explore a cave and easily discover multiple Indian artifacts, which they pocket in the hopes that maybe they can sell them to a real museum.
Because that’s just what they need: more money.
Lucky thing they have Watch, because the dog is the only one intelligent enough to notice that the incoming tide is flooding the cave. They literally don’t notice until the water is deep enough to swim in.
They narrowly escape drowning, but no one’s too worried about it.
Chapter Eight: Indian Point
‘Joe’ is intrigued to hear about the shell pile that the kids found, because apparently he’s never seen it before, and it’s a sign that Indians once lived there. I’m going to ignore the fact that the Indian arrowheads are probably a more obvious sign that Indians lived there, and focus on the fact that ‘Joe’ has never seen this pile of shells before.
Firstly, ‘Joe’ has already told us that he grew up here. I would assume that he would have wandered by a huge pile of shells sometime during his childhood. Let’s pretend he was lying about where he grew up. It’s been mentioned multiple times that this is a very small island. I’m imagining a few miles circumference. I have a hard time believing that this pile of shells is even out of sight from the barn.
But that’s probably more believable than the children and ‘Joe’ launching their own archeology dig by the shell pile, and immediately turning up about 50 priceless artifacts. Including a skeleton with an arrow right through his ribs.
Goonies never say die.
Chapter Nine: A New Violin
Mysterious music leads the children to Captain Daniel’s, where ‘Joe’ is playing a real violin. Violet, the Sensitive Artist, is mesmerized, and just wants to hold the violin, and clutch it to her chest, and cry bitter tears because it is so beautiful, and she feels so alive inside for the very first time, and has an indescribable urge to buy ironic tshirts and listen to obscure synthesizer bands.
Jessie wakes up to crying, and surprise, it’s the Sensitive Artist, in tears because she can’t play the violin (and has never seen Blitzen Trapper in concert, probably). Jessie and Henry quickly reassure her that Grandfather will buy her the best violin ever—and she goes back to sleep happy that she is super rich.
Sure enough, Grandfather has someone (not himself, not going to ruin the Summer of George over at the Alden mansion) buy her a violin first thing in the morning. It’s probably a Stradivari. The others go fishing while she practices with ‘Joe.’
Then shockingly enough, Jessie cooks the fish. And they eat the fish. And they talk about cooking and eating the fish the entire time.
Chapter Ten: Grandfather’s Visit
Grandfather sobers up enough to realize that maybe he should go check in on his four underage grandchildren that he’s abandoned on an island, and stops by for the afternoon. He feigns interest in their little museum and anecdotes, probably while daydreaming about his massage appointment at four and cursing his wicked hangover. Jessie invents a delicious drink, which consists of milk, sugar, and eggs (yes, to DRINK), and he has to choke it down with a smile on his face.
Suspicious ‘Joe’ is suspiciously missing even though he (suspiciously) knew Grandfather was coming that day. Methinks that Grandfather knows ‘Joe’….(fingers crossed) longlost son, longlost son, longlost son….
Oh, yeh, and Grandfather takes the kids to a real museum, and then he’s all “This is my museum. My museum kicks your museum’s ass. And also I’m fantastically wealthy.”
That’ll teach them to use their IMAGINATIONS.
Chapter Eleven: Apple Pie
Jessie makes an apple pie. A stranger stops by, which no one regards as weird, even though they are on a private island. Mr. Browning is looking for ‘someone that used to go exploring for him.’ He thought he was dead, but he heard a rumor he was alive on Alden Island. For all their professing of great friendship with ‘Joe,’ the kids immediately spill all his secrets to this stranger that they just met.
Henry: “It’s probably him Mr. Browning. He’s supposed to be a handyman, but he knows all of these things about seaweed. It’s highly suspicious and I’ve been waiting and waiting for him to really slip up so I can report him to the proper authorities. Impersonating a handyman is just not right, and I won’t stand for it.”
Chapter Twelve: The Picnic
When ‘Joe’ returns, the children, his friends, are surprisingly tight-lipped about their little tete a tete with the mysterious Mr. Browning. Not even Benny drops a hint that some—possibly nefarious—stranger is looking for ‘Joe. ‘ Instead, the children distract him with the idea of throwing a party for their friends. They need his help because they’re not allowed to start fires by themselves. Now if you harken back to Boxcar days of old, you’ll remember that they set fires then all the time without adult supervision. I have a sneaking suspicion that one of them burned down Grandfather’s garden shed, and now they’ve lost their campfire privileges.
This picnic looks even more like a diversion tactic when we find out that the children invited their school friends. Yeh, like those are real.
Benny’s ‘friend,’ Mike, is a real hell-raiser, and he’s annoying all the older children until he ‘accidently’ is injured, forcing him to stay in sight the rest of the morning. However, he recovers enough to disappear with Benny, where they find an old letter in a bottle, that SURPRISE is a letter from their Grandfather when he was a boy, mapping the path to some BURIED TREASURE which turns out to be five bucks. Which they give to Mike because he won’t shut up about it.
That thrilling plotline is interrupted when shouts from the water reveal that someone has fallen out of a boat! And he can’t swim!
‘Joe’ rescues him, but not before muttering some suspicious things under his breath, that of course Henry overhears. The drowning boy ends up being Mike’s older brother, who gate crashed the picnic with his buddy.
Chapter Thirteen: Joe Again
It’s Benny’s birthday, and of course he has ridiculous demands about his cake and his meal and the preparation of the above mentioned. ‘Joe’ joins them for dinner, and Mr. Browning shows up!
And then we have ‘Joe’s’ big reveal as ‘John!’
And by big reveal, I mean, Mr. Browning calls him John, and then Joe/John is like, “oh btw, my name is John. I was in an accident awhile ago and had amnesia, but I’ve been better for like, a year now, just didn’t feel like telling anyone. Even my best friend, Mr. Browning—thought it was best to just hang out on this island with a senile old fisherman instead. Oh, almost forgot! Hoho, silly me. I’m also your cousin. Your Grandfather’s been sick with worry about my disappearance, but for some reason I’ll never explain, I decided to just let him freak out while I hung out on his island.”
Chapter Fourteen: Everybody’s Birthday
Everyone is thrilled that Joe/John is their cousin and that the shock of the discovery didn’t kill Grandfather, and they name the island ‘Surprise Island,’ which everyone thinks is SO CLEVER, and then they eat. I don’t want to ruin the story by describing in detail every thing they ate, but unfortunately Gertrude wasn’t so thoughtful.
Chapter Fifteen: Good-bye Summer
Joe/John (he continues to call himself Joe even though now we know his real name) announces to the children that they are no longer allowed in the cave full of Indian artifacts, because skilled archeologists (himself, and probably his drinking buddies) are needed to ‘properly’ excavate the site. By blowing the whole top of with dynamite of course.
Benny is seriously pissed to be denied a dynamite experience, and for the first time acts his age—by throwing himself on the ground and throwing a fit. The rest of the chapter is a boring and unnecessary trip to look at lobster traps. The one bright spot is—as always—Grandfather and his mysterious puppet-master ways. Why can’t the children go in the Yellow House? What ‘plans’ is he cooking up for them next?
see more Boxcar Children reviews at rampantreads.wordpress.com
Chapter One: The First Surprise
The book begins with Grandfather lovingly telling his grandchildren that he bought them an island, *cough* I mean, his father bought an island a long time ago, and they can stay there ALL SUMMER. He’d visit, but he’s just too busy.
Grandfather: (Shrug.) “But boy, I sure will miss you kids. It will be ever so quiet without Benny crying about milk and Watch barking at every gosh darn squirrel in the yard, and Henry constantly hammering on his next woodworking project” (a bookcase that leans crookedly to one side and can only support the weight of a few magazines).
Grandfather cleverly threw away all the supplies usually kept at the island, so his heirs will have the fun of buying all new things. The highlight of this chapter is when Grandfather tells them not to spend too much money, and they all laugh uproariously because they are fantastically wealthy and can buy anything they desire! Mwuhahaha!
Jessie harps on about bread and milk, which must be some symbolic thread that runs through all the books that I am just not picking up on, because otherwise I’m not sure why it needs to be mentioned in every chapter. Did Gertrude’s family own a bread and milk conglomerate? Because, stop me if I’m wrong, but despite Jessie’s many exaltations to the contrary, bread and milk are NOT adequate nutritional staples to live on. I love that she claims that they can live on bread and milk, ‘even if there’s nothing else to eat.’ It’s like she already has a sneaking suspicion that Grandfather is going to dump them on a deserted island and collect the insurance money.
Grandfather has kindly arranged a chaperone for the children, a Captain Daniel, who has acquired a possibly deranged young man as a roommate. Despite the fact that there is a seemingly perfectly serviceable empty house on the island, Grandfather commands that the children sleep in the barn. Which of course THRILLS them, because what do orphans love more than sleeping on scratchy piles of pine straw? Scratchy piles of hay of course! Henry is delighted by the large amount of scrap wood left behind by ‘workmen,’ which he can use for all his ‘woodworking projects.’ And of course there is cold water nearby, so everyone is pretty stoked.
Chapter Two: Housekeeping
Henry’s old friend Dr. Moore goes by and checks out the mysterious itinerant stranger that lives with the Captain. I guess solely because someone has to be a responsible adult and make sure they aren’t leaving four prepubescent teens with a serial killer. Dr. Moore is easily satisfied with ‘Joe’s’ tale of digging for Indian stuff and falling off a cliff and getting amnesia, because that all sounds pretty plausible. Joe even tells him his secret identity, which must be a doozy, because Dr. Moore agrees to deceive the whole family. I am desperately hoping that Joe will be revealed as Grandfather’s love child, or the orphans’ secret older brother, or even royalty forced to assume a peasant ruse to protect himself from an evil queen.
But who are we kidding? It’s probably just someone’s cousin that dropped out of college or something equally boring with zero reason for being a secret.
Grandfather is almost concerned about the hobo living with his grandchildren, but the lure of a kid-free summer filled with hookers and blow wipes any objections from his mind.
The group goes back to the mainland because Benny is all in a froth to ‘buy things.’ I like to think of him running down the aisles of the Pottery Barn, blindly grasping anything off the shelf to satiate his consumerist frenzy. It’s kind of disheartening how quickly these children have evolved from orphans satisfied by trips to the dump, to possession-driven machines. They decide that their school clothes are ‘too nice’ to wear exploring the island, so they have to buy new clothes. Specifically to get them dirty. Ugh, rich people logic.
Grandfather almost panics when Henry tries to once again convince him to come along. I actually laughed aloud here:
“He knew the children would not go at all unless he were careful. ‘I wouldn’t go with you if I could. I need a little rest without any children or dogs around.’
Sly like a fox Granfather. Tread carefully, or you might not be able to convince them to leave. The kids try to pretend that he is kidding, imagining some sort of twinkle in his eye, but deep down, they know they are just lying to themselves.
The rest of the chapter is taken up with the children washing their dishes and discussing the ubiquitous bread and milk.
Chapter Three: The Garden
Shockingly, Henry discovers a garden in this chapter. He meets ‘Joe’ the handyman for the first time, and learns that Grandfather has forced Captain Daniel to cultivate two gardens, so that Henry can have his very own to muck around in and pretend to grow things. It’s mid-summer, so literally everything in the garden is already planted and ready to harvest, but the children still enjoy pretending like they had something to do with this end result. Several scintillating pages are devoted to the girls shelling the peas, and Henry building a ‘dish cupboard,’ which I’m pretty sure consists of nailing two crates together. Then the kids eat the peas.
Chapter Four: Clamming
Because we haven’t gotten enough about food and it’s preparation in the previous chapters, now we get to read about the orphans digging out clams. After that educational program, the group goes swimming, where once again they encounter ‘Joe.’ I’m sure he’s not following them or anything. He tricks Benny into going into the deep water, which everyone considers to be a good thing. Flush with his success integrating himself into the children’s confidences, he foolishly makes a grave mistake identifying flora for Violet. This sets off alarm bells for Henry, because how would a handyman, who does menial jobs for low pay, know such scientific terms, like, “red seaweed,” and “green seaweed,” and “brown seaweed??” As he falls asleep, Henry muses his suspicions to himself.
“That handy man knew an awful lot about seaweed for an uneducated rube. And he knows a lot of colors.”
Better watch out ‘Joe.’ There’s no getting things past Henry.
Chapter Five: Summer Plan
The gang takes a break from eating to explore the island. After finding such exotic treasures as rocks, flowers, and shells, Henry has the brilliant idea that they should make their own museum. All of them tell him how brilliant this is.
Actually this is something I can see myself probably really enjoying as a kid, but I also read The Boxcar Children books all the time. So my thoughts are suspect.
Violet helpfully makes a list of what they should collect for the museum:
1) Rocks
2) Flowers
3) Shells
You know, so they won’t forget.
‘Joe’ is going to town, so the kids ask him to pick up some library books about rocks, flowers, and shells because learning is fun.
This results in a PLOT TWIST where we the reader learn that ‘Joe’ doesn’t even need to ask the librarian for help finding books because he already knows bunches of science books.
Based on all the heavy handed foreshadowing about ‘Joe’s’ scientific knowledge I am guessing he is either a mad scientist or a teacher.
Chapter Six: The Museum
Disappointingly, I now find all of ‘Joe’s’ scientific acumen to be suspect, since the book titles that he so suspiciously needed no librarian assistance to find are:
The Flower Book.
The Shell Book.
The Butterfly Book
Henry is again very suspicious of ‘Joe’s’ superior rock, flower, and shell knowledge.
Henry: (to himself). “This ‘Joe’ character seems to be having a very easy time identifying these rocks, flowers, and shells. He must be very intelligent to be able to look them up in the books that he brought, compare the object to the picture, and tell what it is. I don’t believe a regular handyman would possess such skills.”
While Henry is straining his mental faculties, the others are preparing the museum. There’s another heavy-handed hint of ‘Joe’s’ mystery identity when we learn that he receives two daily newspapers. Don’t worry Henry. He probably just uses them to wrap fish in.
Grandfather sends the children sweaters as a gift. Violet’s turns out to be *spoiler alert* purple, and she internally sighs with repressed disappointment. Jessie takes this as a sign that the weather will soon get cold and then it does. I am kind of wondering if the children are living in a kind of biodome controlled by Grandfather. If some sort of Hunger Games break out I’m not going to complain.
It rains during the night and the roof leaks. Henry has to stay up all night to empty the buckets when they fill up, because it would be inconceivable to let them overfill and ruin the nice dirt floor of the barn that they are living in. Benny complains about his bed being ruined, and I have to restrain myself from reminding him that his bed is a pile of hay. It has mice poop in it. Shut your trap Benny and GO BACK TO SLEEP.
The next morning it is still raining, and Henry has a conundrum. He can’t go out in the rain in the clothes he’s wearing because they’ll get wet. He won’t be able to change into his other clothes because they’re already wet from Jessie washing them. (I almost suggested to Henry that he could just wear his slightly damp clothes since they are immediately going to get wet anyway, but I knew no one would listen to me.)
Jessie and Henry decide the best way to solve this dilemma is to cut up all their blankets and make Henry a new outfit. Princess Consuela suggested to me that perhaps they came up with this plan so that Violet would have the joy of then turning the pants back into a blanket, seeing as she hasn’t gotten to hem anything so far. But I think that is way overestimating the intelligence of these children. Benny finally speaks up to point out that Henry could just wear his swimsuit, and then they could keep the blanket, for, you know, sleeping purposes or something.
It’s a sad day when your six-year-old little brother is the voice of reason.
Chapter Seven: Exploring
After breakfast (we are spared the preparation detail), the crew goes exploring. Violet brings her sketchbook, because she paints now. I get the feeling that Violet is going to be cast as the Sensitive Artist character, what with her needlepoint, and painting, and general quiet reflection on where her life went wrong (clue: when she agreed to run away with her siblings and live in an empty train).
They quickly find a huge pile of clamshells, which is a big deal apparently. Then they explore a cave and easily discover multiple Indian artifacts, which they pocket in the hopes that maybe they can sell them to a real museum.
Because that’s just what they need: more money.
Lucky thing they have Watch, because the dog is the only one intelligent enough to notice that the incoming tide is flooding the cave. They literally don’t notice until the water is deep enough to swim in.
They narrowly escape drowning, but no one’s too worried about it.
Chapter Eight: Indian Point
‘Joe’ is intrigued to hear about the shell pile that the kids found, because apparently he’s never seen it before, and it’s a sign that Indians once lived there. I’m going to ignore the fact that the Indian arrowheads are probably a more obvious sign that Indians lived there, and focus on the fact that ‘Joe’ has never seen this pile of shells before.
Firstly, ‘Joe’ has already told us that he grew up here. I would assume that he would have wandered by a huge pile of shells sometime during his childhood. Let’s pretend he was lying about where he grew up. It’s been mentioned multiple times that this is a very small island. I’m imagining a few miles circumference. I have a hard time believing that this pile of shells is even out of sight from the barn.
But that’s probably more believable than the children and ‘Joe’ launching their own archeology dig by the shell pile, and immediately turning up about 50 priceless artifacts. Including a skeleton with an arrow right through his ribs.
Goonies never say die.
Chapter Nine: A New Violin
Mysterious music leads the children to Captain Daniel’s, where ‘Joe’ is playing a real violin. Violet, the Sensitive Artist, is mesmerized, and just wants to hold the violin, and clutch it to her chest, and cry bitter tears because it is so beautiful, and she feels so alive inside for the very first time, and has an indescribable urge to buy ironic tshirts and listen to obscure synthesizer bands.
Jessie wakes up to crying, and surprise, it’s the Sensitive Artist, in tears because she can’t play the violin (and has never seen Blitzen Trapper in concert, probably). Jessie and Henry quickly reassure her that Grandfather will buy her the best violin ever—and she goes back to sleep happy that she is super rich.
Sure enough, Grandfather has someone (not himself, not going to ruin the Summer of George over at the Alden mansion) buy her a violin first thing in the morning. It’s probably a Stradivari. The others go fishing while she practices with ‘Joe.’
Then shockingly enough, Jessie cooks the fish. And they eat the fish. And they talk about cooking and eating the fish the entire time.
Chapter Ten: Grandfather’s Visit
Grandfather sobers up enough to realize that maybe he should go check in on his four underage grandchildren that he’s abandoned on an island, and stops by for the afternoon. He feigns interest in their little museum and anecdotes, probably while daydreaming about his massage appointment at four and cursing his wicked hangover. Jessie invents a delicious drink, which consists of milk, sugar, and eggs (yes, to DRINK), and he has to choke it down with a smile on his face.
Suspicious ‘Joe’ is suspiciously missing even though he (suspiciously) knew Grandfather was coming that day. Methinks that Grandfather knows ‘Joe’….(fingers crossed) longlost son, longlost son, longlost son….
Oh, yeh, and Grandfather takes the kids to a real museum, and then he’s all “This is my museum. My museum kicks your museum’s ass. And also I’m fantastically wealthy.”
That’ll teach them to use their IMAGINATIONS.
Chapter Eleven: Apple Pie
Jessie makes an apple pie. A stranger stops by, which no one regards as weird, even though they are on a private island. Mr. Browning is looking for ‘someone that used to go exploring for him.’ He thought he was dead, but he heard a rumor he was alive on Alden Island. For all their professing of great friendship with ‘Joe,’ the kids immediately spill all his secrets to this stranger that they just met.
Henry: “It’s probably him Mr. Browning. He’s supposed to be a handyman, but he knows all of these things about seaweed. It’s highly suspicious and I’ve been waiting and waiting for him to really slip up so I can report him to the proper authorities. Impersonating a handyman is just not right, and I won’t stand for it.”
Chapter Twelve: The Picnic
When ‘Joe’ returns, the children, his friends, are surprisingly tight-lipped about their little tete a tete with the mysterious Mr. Browning. Not even Benny drops a hint that some—possibly nefarious—stranger is looking for ‘Joe. ‘ Instead, the children distract him with the idea of throwing a party for their friends. They need his help because they’re not allowed to start fires by themselves. Now if you harken back to Boxcar days of old, you’ll remember that they set fires then all the time without adult supervision. I have a sneaking suspicion that one of them burned down Grandfather’s garden shed, and now they’ve lost their campfire privileges.
This picnic looks even more like a diversion tactic when we find out that the children invited their school friends. Yeh, like those are real.
Benny’s ‘friend,’ Mike, is a real hell-raiser, and he’s annoying all the older children until he ‘accidently’ is injured, forcing him to stay in sight the rest of the morning. However, he recovers enough to disappear with Benny, where they find an old letter in a bottle, that SURPRISE is a letter from their Grandfather when he was a boy, mapping the path to some BURIED TREASURE which turns out to be five bucks. Which they give to Mike because he won’t shut up about it.
That thrilling plotline is interrupted when shouts from the water reveal that someone has fallen out of a boat! And he can’t swim!
‘Joe’ rescues him, but not before muttering some suspicious things under his breath, that of course Henry overhears. The drowning boy ends up being Mike’s older brother, who gate crashed the picnic with his buddy.
Chapter Thirteen: Joe Again
It’s Benny’s birthday, and of course he has ridiculous demands about his cake and his meal and the preparation of the above mentioned. ‘Joe’ joins them for dinner, and Mr. Browning shows up!
And then we have ‘Joe’s’ big reveal as ‘John!’
And by big reveal, I mean, Mr. Browning calls him John, and then Joe/John is like, “oh btw, my name is John. I was in an accident awhile ago and had amnesia, but I’ve been better for like, a year now, just didn’t feel like telling anyone. Even my best friend, Mr. Browning—thought it was best to just hang out on this island with a senile old fisherman instead. Oh, almost forgot! Hoho, silly me. I’m also your cousin. Your Grandfather’s been sick with worry about my disappearance, but for some reason I’ll never explain, I decided to just let him freak out while I hung out on his island.”
Chapter Fourteen: Everybody’s Birthday
Everyone is thrilled that Joe/John is their cousin and that the shock of the discovery didn’t kill Grandfather, and they name the island ‘Surprise Island,’ which everyone thinks is SO CLEVER, and then they eat. I don’t want to ruin the story by describing in detail every thing they ate, but unfortunately Gertrude wasn’t so thoughtful.
Chapter Fifteen: Good-bye Summer
Joe/John (he continues to call himself Joe even though now we know his real name) announces to the children that they are no longer allowed in the cave full of Indian artifacts, because skilled archeologists (himself, and probably his drinking buddies) are needed to ‘properly’ excavate the site. By blowing the whole top of with dynamite of course.
Benny is seriously pissed to be denied a dynamite experience, and for the first time acts his age—by throwing himself on the ground and throwing a fit. The rest of the chapter is a boring and unnecessary trip to look at lobster traps. The one bright spot is—as always—Grandfather and his mysterious puppet-master ways. Why can’t the children go in the Yellow House? What ‘plans’ is he cooking up for them next?
see more Boxcar Children reviews at rampantreads.wordpress.com
August 21, 2013
The first Boxcar Children book was classic and precious. My children love this sequel and the writing is good, but the plot / structure is disturbingly insane. Really, not that cuddly madcap Nesbit/Lewis kind of insane that you can get away with in a children's book.
Why does the grandfather leave them alone on an island with a strange man? That's just creepy. Every time that mystery Joe takes little Violet down to the shack for a private violin lesson I freak out.
The children almost drown, trapped in a cave filling with water at high tide. I didn't need to read that before bed time, and I'm 37 years old. They eat bread and milk at every meal as if it is some kind of religious rite (literature students solemnly inform me that this symbolizes communion; I think that it is a super sketchy diet.)
Why does the grandfather leave them alone on an island with a strange man? That's just creepy. Every time that mystery Joe takes little Violet down to the shack for a private violin lesson I freak out.
The children almost drown, trapped in a cave filling with water at high tide. I didn't need to read that before bed time, and I'm 37 years old. They eat bread and milk at every meal as if it is some kind of religious rite (literature students solemnly inform me that this symbolizes communion; I think that it is a super sketchy diet.)
August 13, 2019
The story of the Boxcar Children continues with Surprise Island. The kids have grown accustomed to their new life with their grandfather. But sometimes they miss the days where they had adventures and lived on their own in an abandoned boxcar. So their grandfather has a surprise for them. They get to spend the summer on an island he owns! They have adventures....meet a new friend....and make some cool discoveries!
Another cute story in this children's adventure series! While enjoying this story, I had to smile. The adult in me kept wanting to think "oh my gosh, this is just not safe!'' But the kid still lurking in me was like "Woo Hoo! A whole summer vacation on an island! SO MUCH FUN!!'' So, I firmly told the adult in me to shut up. It's a children's story....let the kids have fun! :)
I listened to the audio book version of this story. Narrated by Tim Gregory, the audio (Oasis Audio) is just over 2.5 hours long. Gregory reads at a nice pace and does a great acting job, even with the children's voices. There are also some sound effects here and there. Nice listening experience! I like listening to these stories while doing house or yard work because they are happy, innocent and just fun. Brain candy! :)
Surprise Island was published in 1949. It is a little bit dated, but not badly enough to hamper enjoyment of the story. Nineteen books in this series were written by the original author, Gertrude Chandler Warner. More than 130 books have been added to the series by other writers with the newest book, Secret on the Thirteenth Floor, coming out in September 2019! I'm so curious how the newer books compare to the original series! I might have to skip around a bit and read some of the new books to see what I think. :)
On to the next book in this series -- The Yellow House Mystery!
Another cute story in this children's adventure series! While enjoying this story, I had to smile. The adult in me kept wanting to think "oh my gosh, this is just not safe!'' But the kid still lurking in me was like "Woo Hoo! A whole summer vacation on an island! SO MUCH FUN!!'' So, I firmly told the adult in me to shut up. It's a children's story....let the kids have fun! :)
I listened to the audio book version of this story. Narrated by Tim Gregory, the audio (Oasis Audio) is just over 2.5 hours long. Gregory reads at a nice pace and does a great acting job, even with the children's voices. There are also some sound effects here and there. Nice listening experience! I like listening to these stories while doing house or yard work because they are happy, innocent and just fun. Brain candy! :)
Surprise Island was published in 1949. It is a little bit dated, but not badly enough to hamper enjoyment of the story. Nineteen books in this series were written by the original author, Gertrude Chandler Warner. More than 130 books have been added to the series by other writers with the newest book, Secret on the Thirteenth Floor, coming out in September 2019! I'm so curious how the newer books compare to the original series! I might have to skip around a bit and read some of the new books to see what I think. :)
On to the next book in this series -- The Yellow House Mystery!
April 2, 2018
I was absolutely obsessed with these books when I was younger and decided last year that I was going to slowly reread them. Very slowly apparently as I think I read the first one 4 or 5 months ago. Anyway, these first two are definitely not standing up to the memories I had of them, but they are also the only books not to have 'mystery' in the title and the mystery part is what I remember the most, so I guess these are like the warm-up books and then she settles into a pattern later.
These books are incredibly simplistic and even ridiculous at times but I think that is 1. because they are for a very young age group and 2. they were written so long ago. If this was a more recent book I would accuse it of trying to glorify the ~good old days~ [that we all know were never really that great to begin with] but since it was actually written during that time I suppose I will let it slide. I'll admit my eye does twitch a bit at all the old-fashioned gender roles here, but I'm mostly running on childhood nostalgia. Although seriously could we have something a bit more complex than 'girls cook while boy builds things'? This is why I'm impatient for the mysteries to start lol.
And speaking of 'girls cook', at least half of this book is spent talking about the food they eat and how they make it. I guess this book was written for children who had just come out of rationing during WWII and parents who lived through the Great Depression so it makes sense in a way but also THESE KIDS ARE FILTHY RICH WHY ARE THEY EATING LIKE THIS?? Multiple times they just sit down and eat a piece of bread soaked in some milk. AND THAT'S THE ENTIRE MEAL. That's not a full meal. That's not even ...any kind of meal, but definitely not like a full and adequate supper. I GUESS I could accept someone eating that for breakfast because it's almost just an awful version of cereal but ...seriously? Another time they literally just eat peas. Peas are a side dish. Where is the rest of your meal???? One time they have what sounds like the worst apple pie ever for dinner. CHILDREN, YOU NEED PROPER NUTRITION WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? At one point Violet puts raw eggs and sugar in a bottle of milk and they're all like 'mmm how delicious'... ????????????? Truly I don't know how to handle all this weird food information.
Along with the weird focus on food, the rest of the plot is pretty much just a rehashing of the first book as well. I mean they're living in a barn instead of a boxcar but it's the same basic set up and it literally ends with them discovering another missing relative. HOW MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR FAMILY ARE MISSING??? I guess she did wait like fifteen years between books so that kind of explains it but still, come on. But really all of this just serves to make it hilarious and if you've read it as a child I would definitely recommend taking another look at it as an adult just to be like 'what in the world' if nothing else.
These books are incredibly simplistic and even ridiculous at times but I think that is 1. because they are for a very young age group and 2. they were written so long ago. If this was a more recent book I would accuse it of trying to glorify the ~good old days~ [that we all know were never really that great to begin with] but since it was actually written during that time I suppose I will let it slide. I'll admit my eye does twitch a bit at all the old-fashioned gender roles here, but I'm mostly running on childhood nostalgia. Although seriously could we have something a bit more complex than 'girls cook while boy builds things'? This is why I'm impatient for the mysteries to start lol.
And speaking of 'girls cook', at least half of this book is spent talking about the food they eat and how they make it. I guess this book was written for children who had just come out of rationing during WWII and parents who lived through the Great Depression so it makes sense in a way but also THESE KIDS ARE FILTHY RICH WHY ARE THEY EATING LIKE THIS?? Multiple times they just sit down and eat a piece of bread soaked in some milk. AND THAT'S THE ENTIRE MEAL. That's not a full meal. That's not even ...any kind of meal, but definitely not like a full and adequate supper. I GUESS I could accept someone eating that for breakfast because it's almost just an awful version of cereal but ...seriously? Another time they literally just eat peas. Peas are a side dish. Where is the rest of your meal???? One time they have what sounds like the worst apple pie ever for dinner. CHILDREN, YOU NEED PROPER NUTRITION WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? At one point Violet puts raw eggs and sugar in a bottle of milk and they're all like 'mmm how delicious'... ????????????? Truly I don't know how to handle all this weird food information.
Along with the weird focus on food, the rest of the plot is pretty much just a rehashing of the first book as well. I mean they're living in a barn instead of a boxcar but it's the same basic set up and it literally ends with them discovering another missing relative. HOW MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR FAMILY ARE MISSING??? I guess she did wait like fifteen years between books so that kind of explains it but still, come on. But really all of this just serves to make it hilarious and if you've read it as a child I would definitely recommend taking another look at it as an adult just to be like 'what in the world' if nothing else.
Read
September 26, 2018Read so many of this series eons ago ... never got through most of 'em, though!
June 16, 2024
I enjoyed revisiting this, a childhood favorite that I both read to myself and to my siblings. I may just keep reading through the whole series (at least the ones by the original author).
August 6, 2023
Not as good as the first but still such a sweet picture of children growing up together :)
Read
July 4, 20232023 Reread
This book is a shot of pure nostalgia for me, even more than the first book in the series.
2019 Reread
I remember this being one of my all time favourite childhood books, so I decided to reread it for the first time in almost two decades as a nostalgic summer read. The plot is corny and ridiculous and at least 90% of the book is just descriptions of food (SO MUCH BREAD AND MILK), but I can totally see why I liked it so much as a kid... it's basically the childhood utopia of living alone on an island in the summer (reminded me a lot of Swallows and Amazons actually). Other key things that I remember being obsessed with is Jessie using a bottle as a rolling pin, making furniture out of crates and barrels, creating a museum of found objects (my sister and I totally did this with our rock collection), and getting new knit sweaters. I have to admit the ending almost made me want to re-read the next book too!
This book is a shot of pure nostalgia for me, even more than the first book in the series.
2019 Reread
I remember this being one of my all time favourite childhood books, so I decided to reread it for the first time in almost two decades as a nostalgic summer read. The plot is corny and ridiculous and at least 90% of the book is just descriptions of food (SO MUCH BREAD AND MILK), but I can totally see why I liked it so much as a kid... it's basically the childhood utopia of living alone on an island in the summer (reminded me a lot of Swallows and Amazons actually). Other key things that I remember being obsessed with is Jessie using a bottle as a rolling pin, making furniture out of crates and barrels, creating a museum of found objects (my sister and I totally did this with our rock collection), and getting new knit sweaters. I have to admit the ending almost made me want to re-read the next book too!
January 8, 2024
Second in the series.... adventures of the children
February 1, 2013
This is an enjoyable enough children's story where four siblings are permitted to spend their summer holidays living in an old barn on an island, supervised - from afar - by an old fisherman and a young handy man with a mysterious past. Themes apparent in the novel's predecessor,
The Boxcar Children
- the practicality and (relative) independence of the children, the sexual division of labour and the extent to which the kids co-operate on various tasks (which I remarked upon in my review of that book) - are repeated here. However, the practical advice given in the earlier book (e.g. about hygiene and fire safety) is not as evident. Something of the time it was written in (Surprise Island was first published in 1949) is indicated about the surprise the children had about how much knowledge Joe had when, as Violet put it, he is just 'just a handy man', Henry also commenting at one point that 'Joe is a very strange handy man, to know the names of the different kinds of seaweed'. The idea that a knowledgeable person might want to work as a handy man or casual labourer, even if only for a short while, betrays the author's social class bias (although this is also indicated by the wealth of the children's family).
The story had added interested for me as the children make an interesting discovery on the island.
It's funny how, with children's books, I sometimes come across words I've never encountered before. In this case, I was pleased to learn a new word derived from eighteenth-century Narragansett - 'quahog' - which is a type of edible clam found along the east coast of North America.
In conclusion, kids should enjoy reading this book because I'm sure many of them would love to emulate the independence experienced by the children in the novel as well as share their explorations and discoveries on the island, and also because of the mystery surrounding the handy man. Nostalgic adults might enjoy it too!
The story had added interested for me as the children make an interesting discovery on the island.
It's funny how, with children's books, I sometimes come across words I've never encountered before. In this case, I was pleased to learn a new word derived from eighteenth-century Narragansett - 'quahog' - which is a type of edible clam found along the east coast of North America.
In conclusion, kids should enjoy reading this book because I'm sure many of them would love to emulate the independence experienced by the children in the novel as well as share their explorations and discoveries on the island, and also because of the mystery surrounding the handy man. Nostalgic adults might enjoy it too!
October 24, 2011
I decided to read one of the Boxcar Children books after reminiscing about them with a colleague. Turns out, they are pretty strange from an adult perpective. When I was a kid, I thought it would be great to be as self-sufficient as these kids. As an adult, I'm thinking, "What, you let your grandkids live on an island for the summer with nobody but some stranger who lost his memory?!" But still, they're good books. It was fun to take a trip down memory lane with this group of resourceful youngins'.
August 27, 2019
(All I could think was that Grandfather would get arrested if he let his grandkids spend a summer alone on an island a couple generations in the future.) My kids really liked this and I did too. I love when childhood favorites are still fun as an adult.
Read
February 1, 2022I'm really not sure how to rate this. On the one hand, I feel like this is like the 1950s literary version of Animal Crossing. You get to spend the summer on a cool island, meet some interesting new neighbors, go fishing, find beautiful shells and butterflies and start your own museum. All of that would have been such wish fulfillment for me as a kid. (Well, minus the killing live creatures bit; though at least it was fish and butterflies and they made a point that they weren't going to harm any birds and instead just drew pictures of birds and put the pictures in the tree branches in the museum!) I absolutely would have loved to spend the summer on our own private island. So, lots of fun!
EXCEPT... there's this really disturbing part that I'm surprised more reviewers haven't commented about! I don't know if it's been edited out of certain editions, but the one I read had some rather questionable content about the "Indians" who used to live on the island (admittedly, most of it wasn't as bad as it could have been given the era this was written, but it's still pretty uncomfortable today) BUT then: Overall, I found too many problematic aspects to recommend, sadly—unless you are doing as a read-aloud and can do some on-the-fly abridging as you go along.
EXCEPT... there's this really disturbing part that I'm surprised more reviewers haven't commented about! I don't know if it's been edited out of certain editions, but the one I read had some rather questionable content about the "Indians" who used to live on the island (admittedly, most of it wasn't as bad as it could have been given the era this was written, but it's still pretty uncomfortable today) BUT then: Overall, I found too many problematic aspects to recommend, sadly—unless you are doing as a read-aloud and can do some on-the-fly abridging as you go along.
March 9, 2025
I can appreciate that she wrote this especially for early readers but as a read-aloud to Noah it was boring and SO redundant and not really enjoyable at all and left us with questions we didn’t bother to ask. Even so there was something endearing enough about those 4 one-dimensional siblings and their friends(?) that kept us committed to finishing it anyway.
December 28, 2013
In this book, the children's grandfather reveals the surprise that he owns a small island. He allows the children to summer on it, and they spend their time exploring, making friends with their guardian Joe, and having an all-around fun time.
It's always odd to read sequels to The Boxcar Children, because the first book sounded like it took place in the 1900s, while future ones jump into the 1950s. This book tries to bring back the spirit of the children living on their own, which was what made the first book such a classic. I don't think it succeeds as well.
The first book had the children on the run, and a gentle focus on how they lived life without a single parent. This book has them living on their own with their grandfather's blessing, and with adults to watch over them. The first book had them salvage and rummage for food and supplies, but this one has them provided for them. It's not like these are heavily dramatic books anyways, but it feels like the kids are living in a little terrarium.
The surprise too isn't really surprising. They spoil it at the start, and there's no real drama to the reveal of Joe's identity. The book feels more like a slow, slice of life book about four kids summering on a small island.
Reading it, I'm struck by several things. One is how children really love lists, and the nuts and bolts of their life written out for them. Building shelves, or what they eat for dinner, or lists of things they discover. I think as adults we lose the idea of this. G.K. Chesterton wrote about the reason he loved Robinson Crusoe so much was because of the list of things rescued from the wreck at the start. Everything to him seemed more precious because of it, and the book is full of this.
Also, how much we've changed. The idea that children can be left alone or under the care of an adult not related by blood strikes a lot of the reviewers as alien. But if you think about it, in general most people can be trusted, and children for most of our lives have and did exist on their own. Reading any kids book written before 1980 tends to lead to some cognitive dissonance because of this.
Unfortunately the book isn't as good as the others. It's not as odd as some other books in the series (like the one that was set around a uranium mine!), but it's average at best.
It's always odd to read sequels to The Boxcar Children, because the first book sounded like it took place in the 1900s, while future ones jump into the 1950s. This book tries to bring back the spirit of the children living on their own, which was what made the first book such a classic. I don't think it succeeds as well.
The first book had the children on the run, and a gentle focus on how they lived life without a single parent. This book has them living on their own with their grandfather's blessing, and with adults to watch over them. The first book had them salvage and rummage for food and supplies, but this one has them provided for them. It's not like these are heavily dramatic books anyways, but it feels like the kids are living in a little terrarium.
The surprise too isn't really surprising. They spoil it at the start, and there's no real drama to the reveal of Joe's identity. The book feels more like a slow, slice of life book about four kids summering on a small island.
Reading it, I'm struck by several things. One is how children really love lists, and the nuts and bolts of their life written out for them. Building shelves, or what they eat for dinner, or lists of things they discover. I think as adults we lose the idea of this. G.K. Chesterton wrote about the reason he loved Robinson Crusoe so much was because of the list of things rescued from the wreck at the start. Everything to him seemed more precious because of it, and the book is full of this.
Also, how much we've changed. The idea that children can be left alone or under the care of an adult not related by blood strikes a lot of the reviewers as alien. But if you think about it, in general most people can be trusted, and children for most of our lives have and did exist on their own. Reading any kids book written before 1980 tends to lead to some cognitive dissonance because of this.
Unfortunately the book isn't as good as the others. It's not as odd as some other books in the series (like the one that was set around a uranium mine!), but it's average at best.
August 10, 2024
This book is a frustrating read if you are an adult
I was disappointed to discover that I was both irritated and bored while slogging through this book which, like so many others, I adored as a child. There is nothing that actually exists as a viable plot. It is mostly a series of implausible and/or redundant vignettes.
I think I'm going to warn my daughter to not drive herself or her husband crazy reading this story aloud to my grandchildren. If they decide to dig deeper into this series beyond the first book, perhaps she can leave it to my 8-year-old granddaughter to read this to her 4-year-old twin sisters.
I was disappointed to discover that I was both irritated and bored while slogging through this book which, like so many others, I adored as a child. There is nothing that actually exists as a viable plot. It is mostly a series of implausible and/or redundant vignettes.
I think I'm going to warn my daughter to not drive herself or her husband crazy reading this story aloud to my grandchildren. If they decide to dig deeper into this series beyond the first book, perhaps she can leave it to my 8-year-old granddaughter to read this to her 4-year-old twin sisters.
March 8, 2024
Idk if this just didn’t age well or if it’s always been a troublesome plot but in what world would it be okay for a guardian to leave his 4 children on an island to basically fend for themselves all summer with just a single adult man who is a stranger to watch out for them occasionally? And for one of the young girls to have private violin lessons with said single adult male stranger? Ya… no. Obviously all of that went over my 3 year old’s head but as a parent it was alarming to listen to. But my daughter kept asking to listen to “the cardboard box children” so she was entertained haha.
April 14, 2020
Another fun kids’ adventure built around independence and outdoor living and exploration. I can definitely see where the idea of living with your siblings on your own island for a summer would fire the imaginations of young readers. My five-year old daughter certainly enjoyed me reading to her as a bedtime story. Some fun surprises (for the kids) thrown in as well. As with the first Boxcar Children, not necessarily a lot here for an adult reader, but it’s enjoyable enough.
August 20, 2019
This is fine. Not as likable as the first one, but still enjoyable. My friend Anna and I had a debate about whether the children are perfect. She wins this round because Benny does have a little fight with a friend and throws a tantrum. But other than that, they are perfect children.
2019 challenge: a book with a two-word title
2019 challenge: a book with a two-word title
October 16, 2020
Another fun read aloud with my kids. There were a couple things we had to talk about (the terminology “Indian” and what that means now) but overall as fun and magical as I remember from when I was a kid.
May 16, 2021
Sweet kids story. I loved that the kids had to work for their food, and didn't get everything without effort. It was sweet, and I love how the kids work together.
December 30, 2021
I dunno, there is just something a bit dull about these early Boxcar Children books. I don't feel they really found their footing until later on, but I'm still glad I read it.
January 13, 2022
Jan. 2022 - finished the audiobook, read by Tim Gregory.
Not bad per say - it’s a light adventure story, suitable for younger readers. For all that it feels like a laid-back story, a fair bit occurs. The children are intrigued by a new friend the make when they visit the island their grandfather owns. Despite claiming to be a ‘simple handyman’, the man is oddly well-educated.
They also stumble upon a major archaeological find that intrigues not only the children, but also their new friend, who is excited by the historical implications. Finally, the children host a gathering with their friends, only to become witness to a life-or-death situation when a visitor falls overboard on their trip - and is unable to swim.
It feels much like a child’s fantasy of a perfect summer, with all that occurs - especially with the Alden children living largely unsupervised for the entire summer. I’m sure kids in the 60s enjoyed it quite a bit.
It is fairly dated by todays’ standards, though, and sone of the content might require parents to discuss the story with their kids before reading. The historical site is one relating Indigenous, or First Nations peoples. The use the term “Indian” in reference to the site, which isn’t appropriate to use these days. The author didn’t even bother to research the local cultures where the area would be set to refer to them by name. I’m fairly certain some of the facts she does cite are incorrect, as well - there’s a section discussing the site, and the artifacts found there where their new friend Joe teaches the kids about “wampum”. Only he teaches them that it was a form of money, whereas - IIRC - the belts were actually a symbol of a treaty, or agreement between two groups.
There’s a strong “Protestant work ethic” theme shown once again in this volume - the kids occasionally are allowed to play, but we’re often shown them having fun by working, and acting as miniature adults. This includes the girls, particularly the eldest, Jesse basically keeping house for the four once again.
There’s quite a bit of classism in relation to their friend, Joe, as well. The children are repeatedly surprised by the fact that he’s shown to be intelligent, and have an interest in science - even stating outright how unusual it is for a handyman. And it’s not like he’s going around naming everything by it’s Latin name - none of it seems like it would be unusual for someone to know if they happened to have an interest in reading about the given subject.
And, of course in the end they’re proven correct when Joe turns out to be ‘more than’ a handyman - he’s not only educated, and the (oddly young) director of a museum (owned by their grandfather…), but their own cousin - and therefore a member of the wealthy ‘upper class’, tying in the “Protestant work ethic” theme again with the belief that those those who are wealthy have it as a reward for the continuous hard work.
It’s… okay, I guess. I’m don’t think I read it as a kid, so it’s not as nostalgic as the first volume was, even aside from the dated content. Really weird to see how hands off the parenting is, compared to todays books. It’s enjoyable enough plot-wise.
Taking the dated material into account… on the one hand, I get the merit of historical texts, and if it actually dealt with race relations at all, I could see reason behind leaving the language intact. It doesn’t, though, and with the age level, I could see an argument for re-publishing it in an updated version for younger readers - correcting the now-racist terminology, and correcting the inaccuracies.
I think todays kids would still enjoy the story - just maybe pick up a book with more accurate info to read alongside.
Not bad per say - it’s a light adventure story, suitable for younger readers. For all that it feels like a laid-back story, a fair bit occurs. The children are intrigued by a new friend the make when they visit the island their grandfather owns. Despite claiming to be a ‘simple handyman’, the man is oddly well-educated.
They also stumble upon a major archaeological find that intrigues not only the children, but also their new friend, who is excited by the historical implications. Finally, the children host a gathering with their friends, only to become witness to a life-or-death situation when a visitor falls overboard on their trip - and is unable to swim.
It feels much like a child’s fantasy of a perfect summer, with all that occurs - especially with the Alden children living largely unsupervised for the entire summer. I’m sure kids in the 60s enjoyed it quite a bit.
It is fairly dated by todays’ standards, though, and sone of the content might require parents to discuss the story with their kids before reading. The historical site is one relating Indigenous, or First Nations peoples. The use the term “Indian” in reference to the site, which isn’t appropriate to use these days. The author didn’t even bother to research the local cultures where the area would be set to refer to them by name. I’m fairly certain some of the facts she does cite are incorrect, as well - there’s a section discussing the site, and the artifacts found there where their new friend Joe teaches the kids about “wampum”. Only he teaches them that it was a form of money, whereas - IIRC - the belts were actually a symbol of a treaty, or agreement between two groups.
There’s a strong “Protestant work ethic” theme shown once again in this volume - the kids occasionally are allowed to play, but we’re often shown them having fun by working, and acting as miniature adults. This includes the girls, particularly the eldest, Jesse basically keeping house for the four once again.
There’s quite a bit of classism in relation to their friend, Joe, as well. The children are repeatedly surprised by the fact that he’s shown to be intelligent, and have an interest in science - even stating outright how unusual it is for a handyman. And it’s not like he’s going around naming everything by it’s Latin name - none of it seems like it would be unusual for someone to know if they happened to have an interest in reading about the given subject.
And, of course in the end they’re proven correct when Joe turns out to be ‘more than’ a handyman - he’s not only educated, and the (oddly young) director of a museum (owned by their grandfather…), but their own cousin - and therefore a member of the wealthy ‘upper class’, tying in the “Protestant work ethic” theme again with the belief that those those who are wealthy have it as a reward for the continuous hard work.
It’s… okay, I guess. I’m don’t think I read it as a kid, so it’s not as nostalgic as the first volume was, even aside from the dated content. Really weird to see how hands off the parenting is, compared to todays books. It’s enjoyable enough plot-wise.
Taking the dated material into account… on the one hand, I get the merit of historical texts, and if it actually dealt with race relations at all, I could see reason behind leaving the language intact. It doesn’t, though, and with the age level, I could see an argument for re-publishing it in an updated version for younger readers - correcting the now-racist terminology, and correcting the inaccuracies.
I think todays kids would still enjoy the story - just maybe pick up a book with more accurate info to read alongside.
July 15, 2023
These books are so ridiculous and not great, but my four-year-old loves them, so I guess we’ll keep reading them. The best part of these books is reading the hilarious reviews/running commentary by an internet stranger at rampantreads.wordpress.com. If you’re thinking about reading these books - most likely rereading them as an adult - do yourself a favor and read the chapter-by-chapter breakdowns there. 🤣
November 29, 2024
Kept my 5yo listening very closely on our road trip. He enjoyed imagining living on a house on an island, though wisely (and unlike the boxcar children) he thought he'd take a guardian or two along with him.
June 20, 2024
The first half was Very Boring, at least to me. :p And they do eat bread and milk as a meal A Lot.
August 17, 2016
Holy racism Batman. My nostalgic journey with this series has come to an ABRUPT end.
Excuse me. I'll just stick with Babysitter's Club.
Excuse me. I'll just stick with Babysitter's Club.
June 28, 2019
Listened to this one on audio with the kiddos today. I remember why I loved these so much as a kid — how delightful to get to live in a barn all summer without adult supervision! 🙂
December 31, 2022
My favorite part was when they visited the island and they made a museum. And also that it was everybody's birthday.
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