Customer Reviews

Surprise Island (The Boxcar Children #2)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Boxcar Children #2 Suprise Island is a great book for kids and others 15 and under. My favorite part was when the kids found Indian Point and all the artifacts hidden there. After they found all the artifacts they made there own museum. My other favorite part was when the dogs raced each other. When they had to leave they weren't very disspointed because they knew that they were going to come back.The author is such a realistic writer that when you read this book you think that you are there with them.

When I say "So many surprises," I really mean it! For example, the children find Indian artifacts, when they never thought they would. Benny and his friend found a mini-cave. I like this book because it had so many surprises!

I still enjoy these books even though the real thrill of reading them only happens when you're still a child. I remember not liking this one much the first time through, actually, but then a year later or so re-reading it and liking it.

Basically it's a summer of re-living the survival skills of the first book, except they are in a barn on their grandfather's island. A captain and his so-called handyman live close by to help if anything should happen. But the handyman seems to know a lot, and the children find it hard to believe that he's only a handyman.

This book also marks the first appearance of Benny's friend Mike, who plays a pretty important role in some of the books to come. It also hints at the yellow house, which was what spurred the story of the third book (the first real mystery in the series).

Definitely should be read as part of the real Boxcar Children experience - not the foundationless fluff written by various authors of today.

Mysteryous adventures welcome The Boxcar Children to Suprise Island, a mysteryous private island that the children visit in the second book in THE BOXCAR CHILDREN series.

One of the very rare orginal books, truly written by Gurtrude Chandler Warner, it follows the newest adventures of Henery, Jessie, Vilot, and Benny as they attempt to solve the mystery of the island's stranger who cannot reveal his identy to them.... This book is even more gripping and mysteryous than the forerunner, THE BOXCAR CHILDREN, and will delight those who consider themselves friends of the Alden family.

Also Reccomended: The Boxcar Children (#1), The Yellow House Mystery (#3), Mystery Ranch (#4), Mike's Mystery (#5), Blue Bay Mystery (#6), The Woodshed Mystery (#7), The Lighthouse Mystery (#8) Mountian Top Mystery (#9), Schoolhouse Mystery (#10) Caboose Mystery (#11), Houseboat Mystery (#12), Snowbound Mystery (#13), Tree House Mystery (#14), Bicycle Mystery (#15), Mystery in the Sand (#16), Mystery Behind the Wall (#17), Bus Station Mystery (#18), Benny Uncovers a Mystery (#19)

I have many of the Boxcar children books. They are really colorful on my bookshelf because of the differnt colors of the spines of the books. OK, once you read the first book, you have to read the second one. It is really good for people who are adventurous just like the Boxcar Children. This set of books are perfect for young readers. Parents, These are perfect for your kids. They are short and sweet. I recommend this for children in the Third and Fourth Grades

Growing up in the same town as Ms. Chandler, I was lucky enough to go to the library to hear her read her stories. I loved them. I wasn't sure if my kids 30 years later would love them as much as I did. I think we've read the Boxcar #1 at least 6 times. The kids just love the idea of setting up a home, without adults, and taking care of themselves. Who doesn't love the pink cracked cup and the stream cooler. I wasn't sure if Surprise Island would have the same kind of magic. It did! Not only did it have a lot of the same elements as the first one, my boys loved the kids finding Indian relics, and mystery of who Joe was and of course why can't they go into the yellow house? (read #3 for that one). It is so refreshing that a book written so many years ago can be relevant today, that you don't need potty humor,TV show references or violence to engage children's imaginations.

Four children go to an island, find one of their family members, and get very excited. They call their grandfather and have him come to the island in order to surprise him. That is why they call it Surprise Island.

I enjoy reading the Boxcar Children. This is the second book in the series - The Boxcar's second adventure. This is how the book goes- Well four kids - Henery,Jessie,Violet,and Benny Alden orphans who made home in a boxcar befor their weathly grandfather discorvered them. They are out of school and they are going to stay on their grandfather's private island - Guess what they will live in? Guess how many people will be on the island besides of them? Will they suceed in their adveture or will it fail? Why is the reason it is called Surpise Island? Well, you will have to read this book to find out. Let me tell you it is a good read if you are familar with the boxcar children.

My kids, 9, 6, and 3, love these books, which is a surprise since they don't contain any electronics, fantasy adventures, or magic. They beg me to read "just one more chapter!" everytime. So refreshing to read about kids interacting with nature and who are so polite to adults. Definitely a good purchase.

Reason for Reading: This is another book from the Random Bookshelf that I am reading from this year.The Boxcar Children have played a big part in my and my children's lives. I intend to acquire a complete set of the first 19 books (the others hold no interest to me) and keep them as keepers on my juvenile shelves for my future grandchildren.

Book 2 is very similar to that of the first in the series. First of all, there is no real mystery except for the hidden identity of a man on the island known only to them as "Joe". However, the fisherman who lives on the island knows who he really is and tells the Dr., though swears him to secrecy. The children continuously suspect Joe of being more than just a handyman and wonder who he really is. The story itself is adorable and brings back the children surviving on their own as Grandfather owns a small island where he has decided to let the children stay for the duration of the summer holidays. They, of course, are excited as it brings back their boxcar days and they get right to fixing up the barn as a summer home and cooking, mending and fixing for themselves. A quaint story with no antagonists but simply an innocent tale of childhood from the days of yesteryear. Kids today will get a big kick out of the children being able to live on an island all by themselves for the summer. The resolution is fun and should add another character to the series in the following volumes. Mary Gehr's line & ink drawings are typical of the era and lovingly match the text. An enjoyable, wholesome story for both boys and girls.