The Castle Mystery (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Boxcar Children (Pb)) [School & Library Binding]

Gertrude C. Warner (Author), Charles Tang (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1993 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Boxcar Children (Pb) (Book 36)

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. The Alden children have another mystery to solve when they visit a castle and must figure out which of the guests has stolen the Stradivarius violin.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The Aldens get to help restore an old castle. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Gertrude Chandler Warner (April 16, 1890 - August 29, 1979) was an American author, mainly of children's stories. She was most famous for beginning the popular Boxcar Children book series.

Born in Putnam, Connecticut, Warner dreamed of being a famous author from the age of five. Her favorite book was Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Being in a musical family, she was almost predisposed to play an instrument; in her case, she chose the cello, and her father bought her a cello kit at a young age. However, because of her frequent illness, Warner never finished high school. After leaving in her sophomore year, she learned from a tutor and finished her secondary education. In 1918, while she was teaching Sunday School, Warner was called to teach first grade, mainly because male teachers were being called to serve in World War I. She thought up the Boxcar Children while at home, sick. The stories were perfect for children, especially the majority (at least in her class) who did not speak English very well. She was criticized for displaying children with little parental supervision; her critics thought that this would encourage child rebellion. Her response was, however, that the children liked it for that very reason.

The series was originally published in 1924; the editions most people are familiar with were published by Scott Foresman, starting in 1942. Today, Albert Whitman & Company publishes the extremely popular series of 19 stories. Other authors have contributed to the series, adding approximately 90 books to the series. In her later life, before she died at age 89, Warner became a volunteer for the American Red Cross and assisted other charitable organizations. 

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 160 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785719997
• ISBN-13: 978-0785719991
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,917,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Mystery for Young Readers, March 21, 2002

By 

Peggy Blankenship (Richmond, KY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Castle Mystery (The Boxcar Children Mysteries #36) (Paperback)

Children who are creative thinkers and problem-solvers will enjoy trying to solve the mystery found in #36 of the Boxcar Children series. The story takes place in dreary Drummond Castle, a smaller version of a German castle that is built on a cliff with a cave beneath. The Alden family has been invited by Grandfather's friend, Carrie Bell, to help turn the once-magnificent home into a museum. When the Alden children learn that a Stradivarius violin owned by the original Mr. Drummond has disappeared, they work together to find the missing instrument.
Three shady characters become the children's suspects: Mr. Tooner, the groundskeeper; Sandy Munson, Carrie's assistant; and Tom Brady, the antiques expert. As the Aldens bravely encounter seeing lights coming from uninhabited parts of the castle, hearing eerie music at night, and being locked in the cave, they succeed in figuring out who really has the valuable violin--and the true identity of one of the suspects comes as a surprise to all!
Being a second-grade teacher, I recommend this book to children who are entering the world of chapter books. The spooky setting and strange happenings will keep young readers highly interested. The clues and foreshadowing of the book will stimulate higher-level thinking skills, as well. Parents or teachers who read this book aloud to children will undoubtedly have insightful discussions as they try together to solve the mystery.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harolds Review for The Castle Mystery, April 29, 2000

By 

Harold Bartholomew - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Castle Mystery (The Boxcar Children Mysteries #36) (Paperback)

Besides The Boxcar Children, The Castle Mytery was the best Boxcar Children mystery I have ever read. And I have read 34 Boxcar Children Mysterys. Anyone who loves The Boxcar Children just has to own this. Its great. Get it as soon as you can. It is so good you will read it in 2 days! Kids from age 8 to 12 just have to read this and own it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Castle Mystery, December 20, 2002

By 

K. Kainula "kevinkainula" (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Castle Mystery (The Boxcar Children Mysteries #36) (Paperback)

When their grandfather's friend, Carrie Bell, invites the Alden youngsters to help her restore an old castle, the children become involved in searching for a missing Stradivarius violin, investigating mysterious lights and following a treasure map. Can the children solve the mystery hidden within the castle?