Author: Patricia MacLachlan
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co.
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-8075-6616-9
Pages: 144
Price: $16.99
Boxcar Children website
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When the first Boxcar Children book begins, we learn that Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny are orphans. But what happened to their parents? How did these children find themselves starting out on this new adventure in their lives? To celebrate the 70th anniversary of this series, a prequel was written to set the stage.
As Patricia MacLachlin discovered in writing this book, these four children are kind, smart, resourceful, and they care a lot about each other. These were the characteristics she wanted the reader to see modeled by the parents who raised them. Although this book is not written by Gertrude Chandler Warner, as the original series was, MacLachlin captures the essence of the story well.
The Boxcar Children books have been continuously in print since their original publication, and will most likely be around for another 70 years. It’s wonderful to finally have a true beginning for this unique series. I highly recommend The Boxcar Beginning for all faithful fans and new ones to come.
Reviewer: Alice Berger
Bergers Book Reviews 