You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
This one was really not as interesting an adventure as the other ones I have read.
Tree House Mystery (1969) by Gertrude Chandler Warner is the fourteenth book in the Boxcar Children series, but it's the first one I've actually read. My previous experience with the Alden children was bringing home books on tape/CD from the library for my son when he was small and hearing some of the stories. I can't honestly say if this was one of them or not. I picked this one up from the library to go along with the Birth Year Reading Challenge (as well as others).
In this particular adventure, the Alden kids (Benny, Henry, Jessie, & Violet) are excited when new neighbors move in at the house next door. The Beach house has been empty for so long that they often had forgotten it was even there. But a family moves in with two young boys and soon the friendly Aldens have broken through their reserve and have convinced Jeffrey and Sammy Beach that the thing their new home is missing is a tree house.
While building the tree house and the kids get to know each other, the Aldens learn that Jeffrey and Sammy's dad and his brother used to have a tree house in that same tree. They used to have great fun until one day their prize possession--a telescope--went missing. Each blamed the other and, as sometimes happens, this small disagreement built up over the years and now the men rarely see each other or talk at all. There is also a secret room in the attic of the Beach house which shows evidence that a little boy (other than the Beach brothers) once lived there and played with a much beloved rocking horse. The kids are determined to discover what happened to the missing telescope and who the little boy was. They're certain that finding the telescope will help bridge the gap that has divided the Beach family for so many years. A telescope and a rocking horse are just what the Aldens need to solve a mystery and bring a happy ending for their new friends.
This is a cute story with a mystery that is just right for young readers. There is no danger involved and just a good dose of children's curiosity. A very pleasant read and I understand why my son liked these stories so much when he was little.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting.
In this particular adventure, the Alden kids (Benny, Henry, Jessie, & Violet) are excited when new neighbors move in at the house next door. The Beach house has been empty for so long that they often had forgotten it was even there. But a family moves in with two young boys and soon the friendly Aldens have broken through their reserve and have convinced Jeffrey and Sammy Beach that the thing their new home is missing is a tree house.
While building the tree house and the kids get to know each other, the Aldens learn that Jeffrey and Sammy's dad and his brother used to have a tree house in that same tree. They used to have great fun until one day their prize possession--a telescope--went missing. Each blamed the other and, as sometimes happens, this small disagreement built up over the years and now the men rarely see each other or talk at all. There is also a secret room in the attic of the Beach house which shows evidence that a little boy (other than the Beach brothers) once lived there and played with a much beloved rocking horse. The kids are determined to discover what happened to the missing telescope and who the little boy was. They're certain that finding the telescope will help bridge the gap that has divided the Beach family for so many years. A telescope and a rocking horse are just what the Aldens need to solve a mystery and bring a happy ending for their new friends.
This is a cute story with a mystery that is just right for young readers. There is no danger involved and just a good dose of children's curiosity. A very pleasant read and I understand why my son liked these stories so much when he was little.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting.
challenging
slow-paced
The Boxcar Children = most read series between the ages of 6 and 9 for me. I think of these fondly. Every child should read this series.
A poor unsuspecting family moves next door the the Aldens, and is quickly made the subject of the nosiest children in the universe. It's pretty standard as these books go, down to Grandfather Alden continuing to quietly build his oligarchy by making sure he has a financial interest in everyone around him, but two things in particular did give me a small laugh. The first was Benny's minor temper tantrum after the two kids next door initially seemed to have no interest in hanging out with him. (I have no interest in you either, Benny.) The second was the number of times Henry and Jessie had plans of their own that took them out of the story. Apparently they're getting lives... Good for them. I hope they keep it up.
Maybe they're sick of Benny too.
Maybe they're sick of Benny too.
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 :)
Love the history
These books are fun, cute, adventures and I love that the kids keep growing up and learning new things. So fun.
These books are fun, cute, adventures and I love that the kids keep growing up and learning new things. So fun.
In a nutshell, new neighbors move in, they're mostly ignored by their parents (back to that in a moment), the Aldens barge in and make friends, they all build a treehouse, find a hidden room, and fix a old (kind of dumb) feud between the neighbor's father and uncle.
Oy.
It's actually a pretty cute and fairly realistic story. I like the idea of them building a treehouse, mostly by themselves, although my own children are far too young for it. Some day. And while the feud is dumb, it kind of makes sense. And the mystery of the hidden room isn't much of a mystery, but it's about the right level for a kid's book.
All together, it's a fun book. And hey. The family next door is constantly referred to as they Beach boys (their name is beach, their house is on the beach). This amuses me more than it probably should.
One thing that really bugs me and is only sort of mentioned in the story is the Beach boys' (heh) relationship with their parents:
:\ I like how the Aldens are so independent, but you never get the idea that it's because their grandfather doesn't have time for them...
A few random thoughts:
Why is Watch not in any of these stories? It's just kind of weird at this point...
Blunt much? Feels like a younger kid though, so it works.
Sounds familiar!
Oy.
It's actually a pretty cute and fairly realistic story. I like the idea of them building a treehouse, mostly by themselves, although my own children are far too young for it. Some day. And while the feud is dumb, it kind of makes sense. And the mystery of the hidden room isn't much of a mystery, but it's about the right level for a kid's book.
All together, it's a fun book. And hey. The family next door is constantly referred to as they Beach boys (their name is beach, their house is on the beach). This amuses me more than it probably should.
One thing that really bugs me and is only sort of mentioned in the story is the Beach boys' (heh) relationship with their parents:
"I know he is an important scientist now. He won't have much time for me, I'm afraid."
:\ I like how the Aldens are so independent, but you never get the idea that it's because their grandfather doesn't have time for them...
A few random thoughts:
"We really have big dog," said Benny. "His name is Watch, but he isn't here this summer. My Aunt Jane wanted him on the farm."
Why is Watch not in any of these stories? It's just kind of weird at this point...
Benny Alden was a boy who liked to see things happen. One day at breakfast he burst out, "Those kids next door are the dumbest kids I ever saw."
Blunt much? Feels like a younger kid though, so it works.
Sammy said, "I know. Maybe there's something hidden in the mattress. Come on, Jeffrey."
Sounds familiar!
This was a very good read, and I loved how the story progressed.