Surprise Island is by Gertrude Chandler Warner. It is the second book in The Boxcar Children Series. The Boxcar series remains popular with young children (ages:6-8). These early chapter books allow the reader to enter into the adventures of the Alden children: Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny.

A summer vacation of the family’s private island is the setting for Surprise Island. While on the island the four young Aldens spend their days exploring and having adventures. They are basically alone except for Captain Daniel and the mysterious Joe.

Every book in The Boxcar Children Series is a mystery and in this book the mystery surrounds “Joe”. Who is Joe? His title is handyman. This fellow is strangely knowledgeable about Native American artifacts. The mystery is "why would a handyman would be so knowledgeable?"


But even more curious is the reason he always hides when Grandfather visits the island? Read it to find out the answers…

Surprise Island (The Boxcar Children Mysteries 2) continues to show the resourceful nature of the children. They have spent time alone before and are not afraid of hard work. They are used to providing their own entertainment, and even gather food to eat from the garden and from the see. Other basic food is ferried from the mainland by the Captain.

Ms. Warner had some ideas that she didn’t use in the first book, The Boxcar Children, so now she shares them with readers in this book. Surprise Island is for children who enjoy reading about the Alden children and their independent lifestyle.



Note: Surprise Island by Gertrude Chandler Warner is from my book shelf.