40 pages • 1 hour read
Gertrude WarnerThe Boxcar Children
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1924A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In The Boxcar Children, four orphaned children find shelter in an abandoned railroad boxcar and learn to live independently in the woods while hiding from their feared grandfather. As they craft a new home with limited resources, they form strong bonds and develop self-reliance, ultimately discovering the truth about their grandfather's intentions.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Gertrude Warner's The Boxcar Children receives praise for its timeless, heartwarming story and engaging portrayal of resourceful siblings living in a boxcar. Readers admire the book's simplicity and positive themes. However, some critics find the characters underdeveloped and the plot dated. Overall, it's a charming read for younger audiences.
Who Should Read The Boxcar Children?
Readers who would enjoy The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner are typically children aged 7-12 who appreciate mystery, adventure, and familial bonds. Fans of Beverly Cleary's Ramona Quimby Series or Enid Blyton's The Famous Five will find the resourcefulness and unity of the Alden siblings particularly engaging.
RecommendedReading Age
7-12yearsLexile Level
580LBook Details
Action / Adventure
Mystery / Crime Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Relationships: Family
Relationships: Siblings
Life/Time: Childhood & Youth