Rating: 4 Stars
Source: Library
Description: When the Boxcar Children find an old journal behind the closet wall in the guest room, they never dream it will lead them on a search for a valuable coin collection. What happened to the girl who wrote the journal...and what is she trying to tell them? (from Goodreads)
Genre: Children/MG
Why I Picked This Book:
My Impression: I think I was about 7 when I discovered the Boxcar Children and pretty much immediately fell in love. I loved the idea of the 4 kids essentially playing house in an old train car and then their continuing adventures were just so much fun I read every book the library had multiple times. There's only 2 I really remember vividly - the first one and this one which is later in the series but still part of the original set. Even as a kid I loved mysteries with ties into the past and the fact that they actually get started on this search by something that had been hidden in a wall captures my imagination to this day.
Rereading this I can see why I loved it as a child. The adventure and the figuring out the puzzle are lots of fun even today. You do have to suspend your belief quite a bit but I don't think that's that uncommon for this genre. I would've liked a little more resolution about what happened to the Shaw family but I think that's the adult brain looking for meat to the story versus an issue the intended audience would have. While I'm not sure I would have loved this as much if I hadn't had such fond memories of it I still found this incredibly readable and I'm looking forward to making this series bedtime reading when the Tornado gets a little bit older
Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Definitely! I'm really looking forward to reading this one out loud and I wouldn't mind catching up on some more of the Alden family adventures!
Would I Recommend this Book?: Yes - I think most kids would enjoy this series and it's fun for adults too!
Don't remember ever reading these but they sound fun. :)
ReplyDeleteI will defintitely have to give this series a try for my daughter's sake. I don't remember reading the Boxcar Children books as a child . . . I'll have to ask my mom the next time I talk to her.
ReplyDeleteI think I read one or two of these but they didn't click with me. I know what you mean about the adult brain and its POV versus a child'; it really makes a difference to our appreciation.
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