The Boxcar Children / Recap

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1924- 1976

#1: The Box-Car Children (1924) —
#1: The Boxcar Children (1942; revised from 1924 version) — One night, four orphaned children stand in front of a bakery. Their night there, and then their flight from its owners to prevent themselves from being split up, marks the beginning of the adventure as the Alden siblings set up home in an abandoned boxcar in the woods, making a new life for themselves while trying to avoid being found by their supposedly unfriendly grandfather, their only known living relative.
#2: Surprise Island (1949) — The Alden siblings get to spend the summer on a small island that's been in the family since their great-grandfather bought it. During their explorations, they meet local handyman and amnesiac Joe, who's been living on the island for some time, and turns out to be their long-lost cousin John Joseph Alden (his father was Grandfather Alden's brother).
#3: The Yellow House Mystery (1953) — There's an old house on Surprise Island that fascinates Benny, and while investigating it, they find an old letter that sends them on a trip to find Bill McGregor, their housekeeper's long-lost husband, and bring him home.
#4: Mystery Ranch (1958) — Grandfather Alden is worried about his estranged sister Jane, a stubborn and proud but unhappy older woman who lives out west on the family ranch and refuses to accept help from her brother. Jessie and Violet agree to go visit her, in a trip that winds up helping Jane in a big way and ultimately sees her reconnecting with the rest of her family.
#5: Mike's Mystery (1960) — The town near Aunt Jane's ranch has turned from quiet to bustling thanks to the uranium mine that's opened there, and Benny's old classmate and friend Mike is living there with his family, prompting a visit from the siblings, and just in time to solve a new mystery.
#6: Blue Bay Mystery (1961) — The Aldens get to spend some time on a South Seas island, but not all is as it seems there. Soon enough, they discover the cause of some of the odd events: another boy is on the island after having been shipwrecked six months before.
#7: The Woodshed Mystery (1962) — Grandfather Alden surprises his grandchildren by buying back the old family farm where he and his sister grew up (before moving west). While exploring it, the siblings stumble on mystery once again.
#8: The Lighthouse Mystery (1963) — En route home from Aunt Jane's wedding, the siblings see a lighthouse with a "For Sale" sign, piquing their curiosity. While they find it's already been sold, they're invited to look around and stay overnight, marking the beginning of another adventure.
#9: Mountain Top Mystery (1964) — The Aldens go mountain climbing on Old Flat Top Mountain, where a landslide leads to the discovery of Native American relics hidden in a cave long ago.
#10: Schoolhouse Mystery (1965) — The Aldens visit an old fishing village, and get caught up in mystery when they find someone snooping around the town's schoolhouse.
#11: Caboose Mystery (1966) — The Aldens go on vacation again, this time riding in a caboose that they soon discover has an unusual past and a mystery all its own.
#12: Houseboat Mystery (1967) — The Aldens take a trip down the river on a houseboat, only to find their temporary residence is being targeted by thieves who hid something there and want it back.
#13: Snowbound Mystery (1968) — While staying in a cabin in the woods, the Alden siblings end up snowed in. While they're stuck, they discover a mysterious coded note, and work to figure out the origins.
#14: Tree House Mystery (1969) — The Aldens have a new neighbor, and join him in building a treehouse, leading to the discovery of a hidden room in his own house, and a secret that lies within.
#15: Bicycle Mystery (1970) — While bicycling to Aunt Jane's farm, the Alden siblings get caught up in mystery again when they get caught in the rain and have to take shelter in an old farmhouse.
#16: Mystery in the Sand (1971) — A summer vacation to the beach leads to the discovery of an old locket buried in the sand, and a hunt for its owner.
#17: Mystery behind the Wall (1973) — The Alden siblings find an old journal behind the closet wall in the guest room, kicking off a search for a valuable coin collection.
#18: Bus Station Mystery (1974) — The Aldens take a bus trip to the Science and Hobby Fair, but a storm forces them to stay overnight in the bus station. In the process, they again get caught up in a mystery, this time involving a polluted river and who's responsible for it.
#19: Benny Uncovers a Mystery (1976) — Henry and Benny get summer jobs at a local department store, but are soon drawn to investigate a series of mysterious happenings in their new workplace.

1991- 1999

#20: The Haunted Cabin Mystery (January 1991) — The Alden siblings go to visit an old friend of their grandfather's, but encounter mysterious happenings in his cabin.
#21: The Deserted Library Mystery (1991) — The Alden siblings learn that an old library is to be torn down, unless it can qualify as a historical landmark. Determined to make it happen, the four go to clean up the building, and soon discover a hidden historical treasure inside.
#22: The Animal Shelter Mystery (1991) — The Aldens work to save Greenfield's old animal shelter, which is in danger of shutting down unless its founder can be located.
#23: The Old Motel Mystery (1991) — The Aldens go to Florida and work to fix up a motel that's being sabotaged and in danger of going out of business.
#24: The Mystery of the Hidden Painting (1992) — The Aldens discover an old painting in their attic of their grandmother, and learn of her loss and the necklace she wore in it, long missing.
#25: The Amusement Park Mystery (1992) — The Aldens visit their cousins Joe and Alice, and the amusement park nearby, where strange things are happening to the horses on the park's carousel.
#26: The Mystery of the Mixed Up Zoo (1992) — The Aldens visit a zoo run by Grandfather's old college roommate Edward Marlow, but find that someone's been sabotaging it.
#27: The Camp-Out Mystery (1992) — The Aldens go on a long camping trip, but strange things happen at the park where they're attending.
#28: The Mystery Girl (1992) — The Aldens are visiting Aunt Jane for the summer, and get a job at a general store, only to find one of their coworkers is acting oddly.
#29: The Mystery Cruise (1992) — The Aldens are on a Caribbean cruise, but begin to suspect someone is trying to slow their ship's progress when strange events begin happening onboard.
#30: The Disappearing Friend Mystery (1992) — Greenfield Hospital is raising funds for a new wing, and the Aldens and their new friend Beth decide to lend a hand by starting a helper service, with all proceeds going to the hospital. But then Beth starts acting strange, and someone's trying to sabotage the fund-raising activities, resulting in the kids having to figure out what's going on.
#31: The Mystery of the Singing Ghost (1992) — Joe and Alice Alden are moving from Pine Grove to a new home in Greenfield, and the Alden siblings help prepare the place. Except things take a turn for the strange when it seems their new house is haunted by one of its former residents...
#32: The Mystery in the Snow (1993) — The Aldens visit Snow Haven Lodge for a winter carnival, but someone's sabotaging the contestants, leaving the kids to solve the mystery.
#33: The Pizza Mystery (1993) — The Aldens stop in Silver Falls to visit their friends' pizzeria, and discover they're having a hard time staying in business. When the kids volunteer to stay and help though, they soon find there's more going on than just a lack of customers.
#34: The Mystery Horse (1993) — The Aldens get to work on a farm for two weeks, where they discover one of the horses looks identical to a famous racehorse, and other strange things are happening, leaving the kids to solve the mystery.
#35: The Mystery at the Dog Show (1993) — Greenfield is hosting a dog show, but when strange things happen, from one contestant being deliberately groomed poorly to another outright disappearing, the Aldens set to work to identify the culprit.
#36: The Castle Mystery (1993) — The Aldens visit Drummond Castle, which is being renovated and turned into a museum, with the Aldens helping out. But when strange activities start happening, the kids must figure out who's behind them.
Special #1: The Mystery on the Ice (1993^note) — A figure skating troupe is coming to town, but when a nearby house is burglarized, all evidence seems to point to the skaters, and the Aldens must figure out who really committed the crime. Meanwhile, Joe and Alice Alden leave Greenfield for a short time, and return home with Soo Lee, their new adopted daughter from Korea.
#37: The Mystery of the Lost Village (1993) — The Aldens get to spend two weeks on a Navajo Indian reservation, and help with a nearby archaeological dig. But odd happenings at the dig make them suspect someone else is up to no good.
#38: The Mystery of the Purple Pool (1994) — Grandfather Alden takes the kids on his business trip to New York City, but when they arrive they discover strange happenings in their hotel, such as a pool with the water dyed purple and other pranks. Now, they must figure out who's playing the pranks and why.
#39: The Ghost Ship Mystery (1994) — The Aldens stay at an old inn in Ragged Cove, Massachusetts while their grandfather is on business, and learn a story about an old ship that sank over a hundred years before... which seems to have returned as a ghost, resulting in the kids setting out to figure out what's really going on.
Special #2: The Mystery in Washington D.C. (1994) — The Aldens visit Washington D.C., where they have fun sightseeing. But they soon discover a thief is on the loose, and someone's spying on them, leading them to once again solve the mystery.
#40: The Canoe Trip Mystery (1994) — The Alden children are spending a week on a canoeing trip with their Aunt Jane, where they discover clues to a hidden treasure... and even more mystery when it becomes evident that someone is trying to beat them to it.
#41: The Mystery of the Hidden Beach (1994) — The Aldens and Soo Lee spend a week at Camp Coral in Key West, Florida, where mystery surfaces when it becomes evident that someone's stealing coral from the reef.
#42: The Mystery of the Missing Cat (1994) — The Aldens learn one of their neighbors' cat has gone missing, and decide to help find her. But the mystery deepens when it becomes evident that the cat was actually stolen.
Special #3: The Mystery at Snowflake Inn (1994) — The Aldens are visiting an old-fashioned inn in New England, but when mysterious happenings begin, the Aldens must solve the case of who's responsible.
#43: The Mystery on Stage (1994) — The Greenfield Community Playhouse is putting on a performance of The Wizard of Oz, and the Aldens decide to try out for parts. But it soon becomes evident that someone's trying to sabotage the play, and the Aldens must figure out who.
#44: The Dinosaur Mystery (1995) — The Aldens are visiting a museum with a special dinosaur exhibit, only for mystery to strike as some of the bones go missing, and other exhibits are damaged too.
#45: The Mystery of the Stolen Music (1995) — An orchestra is in town, exhibiting a very valuable, old piece of music. But when it disappears, the Aldens set out to recover it.
Special #4: The Mystery at the Ballpark (1994^note) — Jessie and Violet join Greenfield's new baseball team, and Henry and Benny get jobs helping out. But then strange attempts to sabotage the team start, and the kids must figure out who's responsible.
#46: The Chocolate Sundae Mystery (1995) — The Aldens set out to help their favorite ice cream parlor in town when it seems like the business in trouble, and could be in danger of closing down.
#47: The Mystery of the Hot Air Balloon (1995) — There's a hot-air balloon rally in town, and the Aldens are excited... but when strange happenings begin, the kids must find the culprit.
#48: The Mystery Bookstore (1995) — The Aldens attend an auction in New Orleans where an old bookstore is up for bid, and their grandfather's friend and mystery writer Olivia Chase is eager to buy it and turn it into her own. While things don't quite work as expected, she does become its new manager, and soon enough, strange things start happening.
Special #5: The Pilgrim Village Mystery (1995) — The Aldens visit Pilgrim Village, a town built to look and act like colonial America, showing people what it was like back then. But strange happenings lead the kids into yet another mystery.
#49: The Mystery of the Stolen Boxcar (1995) — Greenfield prepares for its Founders' Day Parade, and the Alden family boxcar is due to be one of the floats. But when it gets stolen from their backyard, the Aldens set out to solve their most personal mystery ever.
#50: Mystery in the Cave (1996) — The Boxcar Children are visiting Dragon Mouth's Cavern, where Benny discovers a set of previously unknown caves... and evidence that someone else is snooping around and up to no good.
#51: The Mystery on the Train (1996) — The Aldens are taking a train trip from Boston to San Fransisco, and get involved in a mystery when their newest friend's art portfolio is stolen and the kids vow to help recover it.
Special #6: The Mystery at the Fair (1996) — A county fair opens in Greenfield, and the Alden siblings decide to enter the various competitions, only for someone to start trying to sabotage the events, leading the kids to hunt down the culprit.
#52: The Mystery of the Lost Mine (1996) — The Aldens take an RV trip to Arizona, and get involved in the search for the Lost Dutchman Mine and the prospector who goes missing while searching for it.
#53: The Guide Dog Mystery (1996) — The Aldens visit a guide dog school, only to once again find themselves caught up in a mystery when it looks like someone's sneaking around for illegal purposes.
#54: The Hurricane Mystery (September 1996) — The Aldens visit South Carolina and get involved in a hunt for pirate treasure, while someone else tries to beat them to it, and a hurricane threatens the entire coastline.
Special #7: The Pet Shop Mystery (1996) — The Aldens are helping out at the Pretty Bird Pet Shop, but someone isn't making it easy for them, as it seems like sabotage is going on.
#55: The Mystery of the Secret Message (1996) — The Aldens are preparing for Greenfield's Winter Festival, but things take a startling turn when a photograph of the statue in their town square turns out to have a mysterious message in it.
#56: The Firehouse Mystery (1997) — When the Aldens learn Grandfather used to be a volunteer firefighter, they go to visit Greenfield's historic firehouse, where he served... and which Greenfield's town council is planning to demolish. The siblings thus dedicate themselves to fixing up the place (which holds some valuable firefighting antiques) in an effort to save the building. However, someone's trying to sabotage their efforts, forcing them to solve the mystery.
#57: The Mystery in San Francisco (1997) —
Special #8: The Niagara Falls Mystery (1997) —
#58: The Mystery at the Alamo (1997) —
#59: The Outer Space Mystery (1997) —
#60: The Soccer Mystery (1997) —
Special #9: The Mystery in the Old Attic (1997) —
#61: The Growling Bear Mystery (1997) — The Aldens visit Yellowstone National Park, where they get caught up in a hunt for a lost cabin and the stash of gold that was supposedly left there by miners.
#62: The Mystery of the Lake Monster (1998) — The Aldens are staying at a lakeside lodge near Lake Lucille in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, where they soon learn about a supposed monster in the lake and decide to investigate.
#63: The Mystery at Peacock Hall (1998) —
Special #10: The Windy City Mystery (1998) —
#64: The Black Pearl Mystery (1998) —
#65: The Cereal Box Mystery (1998) —
#66: The Panther Mystery (1998) —
Special #11: The Mystery of the Queen's Jewels (1998) —
#67: The Mystery of the Stolen Sword (1998) —
#68: The Basketball Mystery (1999) —
#69: The Movie Star Mystery (1999) —
Special #12: The Mystery of the Black Raven (1999) —
#70: The Mystery of the Pirate's Map (1999) — The Aldens are staying at an inn in Cherrystone Harbor for a week, but things take a turn for the exciting when Benny finds part of an old treasure map in a bottle, and hints that the treasure itself is in the same town.
#71: The Ghost Town Mystery (1999) —
#72: The Mystery in the Mall (1999) —
Special #13: The Mystery in New York (1999) —
#73: The Gymnastics Mystery (1999) —

2000- 2009

#74: The Poison Frog Mystery (2000) —
#75: The Mystery of the Empty Safe (2000) —
Special #14: The Home Run Mystery (2000) —
#76: The Great Bicycle Race Mystery (2000) —
#77: The Mystery of the Wild Ponies (2000) —
#78: The Mystery in the Computer Game (2000) —
Special #15: The Honeybee Mystery (2000) —
#79: The Mystery at the Crooked House (2000) —
#80: The Hockey Mystery (2001) —
#81: The Mystery of the Midnight Dog (2001) —
Special #16: The Mystery of the Screech Owl (2001) —
#82: The Summer Camp Mystery (2001) —
#83: The Copycat Mystery (2001) —
#84: The Haunted Clock Tower Mystery (2001) —
Special #17: The Mystery of the Tiger's Eye (2001) —
#85: The Disappearing Staircase Mystery (2001) —
#86: The Mystery on Blizzard Mountain (2002) —
#87: The Mystery of the Spider's Clue (2002) —
Special #18: The Candy Factory Mystery (2002) —
#88: The Mystery of the Mummy's Curse (2002) —
#89: The Mystery of the Star Ruby (2002) —
#90: The Stuffed Bear Mystery (2002) —
Special #19: The Mystery of Alligator Swamp (2002) —
#91: The Mystery at Skeleton Point (2002) —
#92: The Tattletale Mystery (2003) —
#93: The Comic Book Mystery (2003) —
Special #20: The Great Shark Mystery (2003) —
#94: The Ice Cream Mystery (2003) —
#95: The Midnight Mystery (2003) —
#96: The Mystery in the Fortune Cookie (2003) —
Special #21: The Black Widow Spider Mystery (2003) —
#97: The Radio Mystery (2003) —
#98: The Mystery of the Runaway Ghost (2004) —
#99: The Finders Keepers Mystery (2004) —
#100: The Mystery of the Haunted Boxcar (2004) —
#101: The Clue in the Corn Maze (2004) —
#102: The Ghost of the Chattering Bones (2005) —
#103: The Sword of the Silver Knight (2005) —
#104: The Game Store Mystery (2005) —
#105: The Mystery of the Orphan Train (2005) —
#106: The Vanishing Passenger (2006) —
#107: The Giant Yo Yo Mystery (2006) —
#108: The Creature in Ogopogo Lake (2006) —
#109: The Rock and Roll Mystery (2006) —
#110: The Secret of the Mask (2007) —
#111: The Seattle Puzzle (2007) —
#112: The Ghost in the First Row (2007) —
#113: The Box that Watch Found (2007) —
#114: A Horse Named Dragon (2008) —
#115: The Great Detective Race (2008) —
#116: The Ghost at the Drive-In Movie (2008) —
#117: The Mystery of the Traveling Tomatoes (2008) —
#118: The Spy Game (2009) —
#119: The Dog-Gone Mystery (2009) —
#120: The Vampire Mystery (2009) —
#121: Superstar Watch (2009) —

2010- 2019

#122: The Spy in the Bleachers (2010) —
#123: The Amazing Mystery Show (2010) —
#124: The Pumpkin Head Mystery (2010) —
#125: The Cupcake Caper (2010) —
#126: The Clue in the Recycling Bin (2011) —
#127: Monkey Trouble (2011) —
#128: The Zombie Project (2011) —
#129: The Great Turkey Heist (2011) —
#130: The Garden Thief (2012) —
A Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm (2012) —
#131: The Boardwalk Mystery (2013) —
#132: Mystery of the Fallen Treasure (2013) —
#133: The Return of the Graveyard Ghost (2013) —
#134: The Mystery of the Stolen Snowboard (2014) —
#135: The Mystery of the Wild West Bandit (2014) —
#136: The Mystery of the Soccer Snitch (2014) —
#137: The Mystery of the Grinning Gargoyle (2014) —
#138: The Mystery of the Missing Pop Idol (2015) —
#139: The Mystery of the Stolen Dinosaur Bones (2015) —
#140: Mystery at the Calgary Stampede (2015) —
#141: The Sleepy Hollow Mystery (2015) —
#142: The Legend of the Irish Castle (2016) —
#143: The Celebrity Cat Caper (2016) —
#144: Hidden in the Haunted School (2016) —
#145: The Election Day Dilemma (2016) —
Great Adventure #1: Journey on a Runaway Train (2017) —
Great Adventure #2: The Clue in the Papyrus Scroll (2017) —
Great Adventure #3: The Detour of the Elephants (2017) —
Great Adventure #4: The Shackleton Sabotage (2017) —
Great Adventure #5: The Khipu and the Final Key (2017) —
#146: The Doughnut Whodunit (2018) —
#147: The Robot Ransom (2018) —
#148: The Legend of the Howling Werewolf (2018) —
Interactive Mysteries #1: Midnight at the Haunted Hotel (2018) —
#149: The Day of the Dead Mystery (2018) —
#150: The Hundred-Year Mystery (2019) —
#151: The Sea Turtle Mystery (2019) —
#152: Secret on the Thirteenth Floor (2019) —
Interactive Mysteries #2: The Great Spy Showdown (2019) —
#153: The Power Down Mystery (2019) —

2020-on

#154: Mystery at Camp Survival (2020) —
#155: The Mystery of the Forgotten Family (2020) —
#156: The Skeleton Key Mystery (2020) —
Interactive Mysteries #3: Trouble on the Wild West Express (2020) —
#157: Science Fair Sabotage (2020) —
Creatures of Legend #1: The Secret of Bigfoot Valley (2021) —
Creatures of Legend #2: Mystery of the Hidden Elves (2021) —
Creatures of Legend #3: Mermaids of the Deep Blue Sea (2021) —
Creatures of Legend #4: Myth of the Rain Forest Monster (2021) —
Interactive Mysteries #4: Race through White-Water Canyon (2021) —
#158: The Great Greenfield Bake-Off (2021) —
#159: The Beekeeper Mystery (2021) —
#160: The Mystery in the Magic Shop (2022) —
Endangered Animals #1: The Big Spill Rescue (2022) —
Endangered Animals #2: Mystery of the Spotted Leopard (2022) —
#161: The Raptor Rescue (2023) —
Endangered Animals #3: Mystery of the Vanishing Forest (2023) —
Endangered Animals #4: The Great Reef Rebuild (2023) —
#162: The Code-Breaking Mystery (2023) —
Summer of Adventure #1: Legend of the Hidden Treasure (2023) —
Summer of Adventure #2: Secret of Superstition Mountain (2023) —
#163: X Marks the Spot (2023) —

Spinoff series: The Adventures of Benny and Watch (1997-2004)

An "Early Reader" series that starts with a retelling of the original book, then goes on to tell a series of original stories centered around Benny and Watch.

#01. Meet the Boxcar Children (1997)
#02. A Present for Grandfather (1997)
#03. Benny's New Friend (1998)
#04. The Magic Show Mystery (1998)
#05. Benny Goes Into Business (1999)
#06. Watch Runs Away (1999)
#07. The Secret Under the Tree (2001)
#08. Benny's Saturday Surprise (2001)
#09. Sam Makes Trouble (2002)
#10. Watch, the Superdog! (2002)
#11. Keys and Clues for Benny (2004)
#12. Benny's Boxcar Sleepover (2004)

Spinoff series: The Jessie Files (2023-ongoing)

A spinoff series written by Stacia Deutsch and centered around Jessie Alden, who thinks her mystery-solving days are over as she focuses on school (including her new role at the student newspaper) instead, until she and her friends start stumbling upon strange happenings again and have to solve them together.

The Jessie Files #1: The Friendship Feature (2023) —
The Jessie Files #2: Talk of the Town (2023) —
The Jessie Files #3: A Dramatic Disappearance (2023) —
The Jessie Files #4: The Campsite Cold Case (2023) —

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