“One warm night four children stood in front of a bakery. No one knew them. No one knew where they had come from.”

The first words in a long series of children’s mystery books themselves contain a mystery. The Boxcar Children appear out of nowhere, their past obscure. Clearly, though, they’re alone and in trouble. It’s an effective opening that rivets the reader’s attention onto the four kids.

“‘We have a grandfather in Greenfield, but we don’t like him,’ said Benny. Jessie put her hand over the little boy’s mouth before he could say more.”

Benny is too young to know better than to blurt out information about himself and his siblings to strangers, but Jessie knows. She and her older brother Henry are very smart and understand that their situation is dangerous. Jessie is good at managing her younger brother, but no one can do so perfectly, especially with a five-year-old who’s filled with energy and enthusiasm.

“[…] Jessie said, ‘I think we could go faster if we woke him up now. We could take his hands and help him along.’ Henry stopped and put Benny down. ‘Come, Benny,’ he said. ‘You must wake up and walk now.’ ‘Go away!’ said Benny. ‘Let me try,’ said Violet. ‘Now, Benny, you can play that you are a little brown bear and are running away to find a nice warm bed. Henry and Jessie will help you, and we’ll find a bed.’ Benny liked being a little brown bear, and so he woke up and opened his eyes. Henry and Jessie took his hands, and they all went on again.”

Violet shows her ability to calm cranky people. She understands her little brother and makes for him a game out of waking and walking. The kids work closely together to make a new life for themselves. They have a knack for coordinating their efforts to overcome obstacles.