Module 13: The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Picture taken from:

http://www.amazon.com/Boxcar-Children-No-Mysteries/dp/0807508527/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321823057&sr=1-1

Summary:

Four siblings who have recently lost both of their parents are on the run from a seemingly frightening future. They are running from their grandfather: “He’s our father’s father, and he didn’t like our mother,” said Henry. “So we don’t think he would like us. We are afraid he would be mean to us.” The children find themselves fending for themselves in the woods living in an old boxcar. The oldest, Henry, gets work from a kindly doctor in a nearby town where he is able to support his three younger siblings. The kind doctor is curious about the boy and soon discovers that the boy and his younger siblings are the grandchildren of a famously wealthy man.  He is concerned about the well-being of the children, but is uncertain how to help them. When Violet, the middle sibling, becomes very ill the doctor takes the children into his home and asks the grandfather to visit and meet the children. The children learn to trust and love the kindly old man and soon learn he is their grandfather. The children no longer have to live in the old boxcar and move with their grandfather and live happily ever after. 

Citation:

Warner, G.C. (1977). The boxcar children. USA : Albert Whitman and Co.

Impression:

I found  the story to be lacking in depth and plot. This is a sweet story of family and friendship, but it plays out like a fairytale. I remember adoring this story as a small child; it provided a sense of independence, adventure and it sparked my imagination. I don’t believe it is meant to be read by adults as it did not hold up well when I read it again. I found myself more concerned about the children’s well being and appalled at the idea of four children living alone in the wilderness. I was concerned about the children’s future in the woods and felt the children were too unbelievable and adult-like.

Reviews:

Warner's Boxcar Children was published in 1942 to mixed reviews. Parents were alarmed that the novel's child heroes, the Alden siblings, got on so well without adult intervention. Children, however, felt empowered and enthusiastically applauded the young survivalists and their numerous further adventures. Denton, whose credits include work for the Cartoon Network, and Dubisch, best known for his fantasy comic artwork, have put together graphic-novel versions of some of the stories. In this first book, the orphaned Aldens set up housekeeping in an old boxcar, making the most of their particular strengths, until their grandfather takes them in. The story, though easy to read and follow, is presented in a surprisingly lackluster manner. The artwork, however, is more energetic, and the format works in the series' favor, lending a contemporary feel even though the cars and clothes are vintage. The question remains, though, whether these modest pluses are enough to entice readers to continue to read the whole series (or find the original books).--Zvirin, Stephanie Copyright 2009 Booklist

Citation:

Zvirin, S. (2009). The Boxcar Children. Booklist. 105(13), 61. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/

Uses:

• Have a Boxcar Children-related event in the library that teaches children about survival. Invite a boy scout troop leader to teach how to build a fire, locate eatable berries, etc.
• Invite a railroad engineer to discuss what it would be like to live in a boxcar and then have a tour of the inside of a boxcar.