Reviews

The Box-Car Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

crystalstarrlight's review against another edition

5.0

Of all the Boxcar Children books I read as a child (and I read over 20 of them, both by Warner herself and then the ghostwriters), THIS is the one I reread multiple times (and I despised rereading one book in a series more than the others).

I loved watching the kids flee into the wild and eke out their own lives. I loved how Henry got a job to provide for his siblings, Jessie took care of Violet and Benny. Violet was a sweetheart (if a "shrinking violet"), while Benny was just Benny (I never really cared for him).

Honestly, I was more saddened by the ending than happy. I wanted more adventures of these kids on their own. Even while the mysteries in later books had the kids solo a lot of times, they were nowhere near as good as this book IMO. (And the books after the original 19 were nowhere near as good as the original 19 - particularly since they reset the timeline every book and prettified/de-aged Aunt Jane.)

I attribute my love of survival novels on this book and this book alone. I shudder to think of rereading it and losing the mystery.

jenmangler's review against another edition

3.0

As a kid I would have loved this book.

mckeyla's review

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

ljcagle's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

3.5

kilbmc's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

baltimorelibrarian's review against another edition

2.0

I read these as a child and loved them, especially this first book. Now that I'm rereading the series to my 5-year-old, I am shocked by how terrible the writing is, and the gaping plot holes. It just demonstrates that some children's books are meant to be enjoyed by adults and children both, and some are meant to be enjoyed by children only.

timeislikeariver's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted

3.5

this series was so incredibly formative for me as a kid

gatosenojados's review against another edition

4.0

I love this book. it makes me want to go on adventures.

mjhj888's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

Another book read at bedtime. I hardly had any childhood memories of this one, except that I liked it. It is definitely written for an early reader, and the children's adventures seem such fun. But, as an adult, it was nice to read that grown-ups had their eyes on these children the whole time.

storybrooke13's review against another edition

4.0

I was feeling nostalgic & wanted to reread this since I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. It’s still fun & cute (yes, I teared up at the end oops) and I get why I loved the series as a second grader.

I listened to the audiobook & the voice the performer used for the youngest boy was so annoying