Mystery

Remember [b:Surprise Island|156809|Surprise Island (The Boxcar Children, #2)|Gertrude Chandler Warner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1172264372l/156809._SX50_.jpg|151321]? Remember

Then Henry said, “Grandfather, that’s one thing we can’t understand. Why didn’t we ever get to go into that little yellow house? Doesn’t it belong to you?”

Mr. Alden looked at his grandchildren. Then he said quietly, “That’s another story.”

Well here you go: [b:The Yellow House Mystery|156865|The Yellow House Mystery (The Boxcar Children, #3)|Gertrude Chandler Warner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1172264544l/156865._SX50_.jpg|2563888].

Herein, we actually go into said Yellow House on Surprise Island to investigate yet another mystery of yet another long lost family member (of sorts). At some point, they're going to run out of house.

Plotwise, the 'mystery' doesn't make a lick of sense, trusting untrustyworthy sorts ratehr than double checking that, I don't know, your wife is actually dead? come one. And yay for reunions, but that's going to be hard after 40 years... I can't imagine.

But it's a fun enough adventure and kids pretty much overlook the questionable bits and focus on the adventures in the great outdoors. So that's cool. I much preferred the first two, but still good enough. ( )

The children beg Grandfather Alden to be allowed to look into the yellow house on Surprise Island - and then they go in search of the man who built it, and then fled. A camping expedition, a hermit, buried treasure, a secret identity, and, of course, a mystery solved. ( )

Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are determined to solve the mystery that surrounds an old yellow house on the property. Strange things have happened in that house where long ago a man disappeared.

This book is clearly the one where Warner clarified where she was going with the series. The focus is off the relationships and the plot takes a clear turn towards mystery-solving. It's not quite Bobbsey Twins level yet, but getting there. That said, my kids thoroughly enjoyed it and I started to relive that excitement this kind of gentle mystery brings to the under-10 set. ( )