The Hurricane Mystery

The Boxcar Children #54

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

While visiting a friend of their grandfather's on Sullivan's Island, off the coast of South Carolina near Charleston, the Boxcar Children encounter mysterious activities related to rumors of a buried pirate treasure.

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

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Gertrude Chandler Warner was born in Putnam, Connecticut, on April 16, 1890, to Edgar and Jane Warner. Her family included a sister, Frances, and a brother, John. From the age of five, she dreamed of becoming an author. She wrote stories for her Grandfather Carpenter, and each Christmas she gave him one of these stories as a gift. Today, Ms. Warner is best remembered as the author of THE BOXCAR CHILDREN MYSTERIES.

As a child, Gertrude enjoyed many of the things that girls enjoy today. She loved furnishing a dollhouse with handmade furniture and she liked to read. Her favorite book was ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Often on Sundays after church, Gertrude enjoyed trips to visit her grandparents' farm. Along the way, she and Frances would stop to pick the wildflowers they both loved. Gertrude's favorite flower was the violet.

Her family was a very musical one. They were able to have a family orchestra, and Gertrude enjoyed playing the cello. Her father had brought her one from New York ---a cello, a bow, a case and an instruction book. All together, he paid $14. Later, as an adult, she began playing the pipe organ and sometimes substituted for the church organist.

Due to ill health, Ms. Warner never finished high school. She left in the middle of her second year and studied with a tutor. Then, in 1918, when teachers were called to serve in World War I, the school board asked her to teach first grade. She had forty children in the morning and forty more in the afternoon. Ms. Warner wrote, "I was asked or begged to take this job because I taught Sunday School. But believe me, day school is nothing like Sunday School, and I sure learned by doing --- I taught in that same room for 32 years, retiring at 60 to have more time to write." Eventually, Ms. Warner attended Yale, where she took several teacher training courses.

Once when she was sick and had to stay home from teaching, she thought up the story about the Boxcar Children. It was inspired by her childhood dreams. As a child, she had spent hours watching the trains go by near her family's home. Sometimes she could look through the window of a caboose and see a small stove, a little table, cracked cups with no saucers, and a tin coffee pot boiling away on the stove. The sight had fascinated her and made her dream about how much fun it would be to live and keep house in a boxcar or caboose. She read the story to her classes and rewrote it many times so the words were easy to understand. Some of her pupils spoke other languages at home and were just learning English. THE BOXCAR CHILDREN gave them a fun story that was easy to read.

Ms. Warner once wrote for her fans, "Perhaps you know that the original BOXCAR CHILDREN. . . raised a storm of protest from librarians who thought the children were having too good a time without any parental control! That is exactly why children like it! Most of my own childhood exploits, such as living in a freight car, received very little cooperation from my parents."

Though the story of THE BOXCAR CHILDREN went through some changes after it was first written, the version that we are familiar with today was originally published in 1942 by Scott Foresman. Today, Albert Whitman & Company publishes this first classic story as well as the next eighteen Alden children adventures that were written by Ms. Warner.

Gertrude Chandler Warner died in 1979 at the age of 89 after a full life as a teacher, author, and volunteer for the American Red Cross and other charitable organizations. After her death, Albert Whitman & Company continued to receive mail from children across the country asking for more adventures about Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny Alden. In 1991, Albert Whitman added to THE BOXCAR CHILDREN MYSTERIES so that today's children can enjoy many more adventures about this independent and caring group of children.

Books about Gertrude: https://www.goodreads.com/characters/...

Reviews

[Janete on hiatus due health issues · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis : "When the Aldens hear that Grandfather's friend Mrs. Ashleigh had an ancestor who was a pirate, they decide to hunt for his hidden treasure. But then strange things start to happen, and it looks like someone else wants to find the treasure - and keep it! Can the Boxcar Children stop the thief before the next hurricane hits?"

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was really fun, with some different plot twists. It wasn't your typical Boxcar children. It was pretty easy to figure out the who, but the what was a little more veiled, although it was pretty clear to me by the end. But the kids figured out the what, too, which was neat.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boxcar children are going to help their friend with her house after a hurricane. Right when they come they already resoved a mystery, they found their neighbour's gate which was lost. Their friend tells them her ancestor hid a treasure but she thinks it is a legend. Other people around them are also acting weird. Will the Boxcar children uncover another mystery?
I liked this book becasue I like reading books about hurricanes . It is sad but the main character always survives.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Hurricane Mystery," part of "The Boxcar Children" series by Gertrude Chandler Warner, is a delightful read for young mystery lovers. In this book, the Alden children find themselves on a new adventure, exploring a hidden beach and uncovering secrets.

The writing style is straightforward, making it easy for young readers to follow along. The Alden children's resourcefulness and teamwork shine as they solve the mystery, highlighting the importance of family and cooperation. The plot is engaging, with enough twists to keep readers interested without being too complex.

Overall, "The Hurricane Mystery" is a charming addition to "The Boxcar Children" series, perfect for kids who enjoy a classic, gentle mystery.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The family is visiting a friend in North Carolina and the children stay to help her clean up and fix her house after a hurricane has damaged a lot. The most important thing missing is a priceless iron gate, called the Pirate's Gate. The children find two women trying to load the gate into their van and they all take it back. Mrs. Ashleigh hires the local ironcrafter to repair damage to the gate, but then it is stolen. Benny is also determined to search for the pirates' treasure he has heard about. This one is a bit over the top, but still interesting.

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 54 of the Boxcar Children. Something strange is a foot right after a hurricane. Pirates, Hidden treasure, and all. It is up to the Alden children to sort this mess out and right in the middle of the whole thing is a thief. Not to worry though they will have this solved before dinner time. ​

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com

[Library Queen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars because even in the 90s they would still have more notice of a hurricane coming than the same day.

Either that, or all the adults on the island are stupid and never bother checking the weather during hurricane season.

[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.

[Sydney Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, clean mystery for kids.

[Charles Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

82%

Execute the poor pricks

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A particularly interesting mystery in this one, and a lot of facts about hurricanes.

[Sue Babovec · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of these days Calvin and I will have read all the Boxcar Children b00ks!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather than the usual squabbles over music selection, our 2nd grader asked the older siblings to read this book in the car on our daily commutes. It was a pleasant read for everyone. The 2nd grader preferred the others to read, but did take a turn, and had no trouble with it. Even though my concentration wandered in and out of the story with traffic, I was able to figure the mystery of the pirates' treasure out. It was a good gift from a friend.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be hard to live in a place where there's hurricanes all the time. I'm glad I don't. It's kind of interesting where the pirates gold is, but I'm not going to spoil it and tell you where it is. So enjoy reading it!

[Allison McLeod]

Very good!!

I chose five stars because, I loved this book. My favorite part was when Benny found his treasure(chocolate coins). I look forward to reading more of these books, or all of these books, and they are perfect for anyone who needs a good book.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

great when ur little

[Jschwab · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it is good but not that exciting and they could put more in it.

[Deborah Harris]

AR Quiz No. 12774 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 3.8 - AR Pts: 2.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP

[Cori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read May 12, 2019

[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 :)

[Partridge Public]

Warner, Gertrude C. PB

[Zach · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a OK book not my favorite but it was pretty good.