THE BOXCAR CHILDREN MYSTERIES
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN
SURPRISE ISLAND
THE YELLOW HOUSE MYSTERY
MYSTERY RANCH
MIKE’S MYSTERY
BLUE BAY MYSTERY
THE WOODSHED MYSTERY
THE LIGHTHOUSE MYSTERY
MOUNTAIN TOP MYSTERY
SCHOOLHOUSE MYSTERY
CABOOSE MYSTERY
HOUSEBOAT MYSTERY
SNOWBOUND MYSTERY
TREE HOUSE MYSTERY
BICYCLE MYSTERY
MYSTERY IN THE SAND
MYSTERY BEHIND THE WALL
BUS STATION MYSTERY
BENNY UNCOVERS A MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CABIN MYSTERY
THE DESERTED LIBRARY MYSTERY
THE ANIMAL SHELTER MYSTERY
THE OLD MOTEL MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN PAINTING
THE AMUSEMENT PARK MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIXED-UP ZOO
THE CAMP-OUT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY GIRL
THE MYSTERY CRUISE
THE DISAPPEARING FRIEND MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SINGING GHOST
THE MYSTERY IN THE SNOW
THE PIZZA MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY HORSE
THE MYSTERY AT THE DOG SHOW
THE CASTLE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST VILLAGE
THE MYSTERY ON THE ICE
THE MYSTERY OF THE PURPLE POOL
THE GHOST SHIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN WASHINGTON, DC
THE CANOE TRIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN BEACH
THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING CAT
THE MYSTERY AT SNOWFLAKE INN
THE MYSTERY ON STAGE
THE DINOSAUR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN MUSIC
THE MYSTERY AT THE BALL PARK
THE CHOCOLATE SUNDAE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HOT AIR BALLOON
THE MYSTERY BOOKSTORE
THE PILGRIM VILLAGE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN BOXCAR
THE MYSTERY IN THE CAVE
THE MYSTERY ON THE TRAIN
THE MYSTERY AT THE FAIR
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST MINE
THE GUIDE DOG MYSTERY
THE HURRICANE MYSTERY
THE PET SHOP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SECRET MESSAGE
THE FIREHOUSE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN SAN FRANCISCO
THE NIAGARA FALLS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY AT THE ALAMO
THE OUTER SPACE MYSTERY
THE SOCCER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE OLD ATTIC
THE GROWLING BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LAKE MONSTER
THE MYSTERY AT PEACOCK HALL
THE WINDY CITY MYSTERY
THE BLACK PEARL MYSTERY
THE CEREAL BOX MYSTERY
THE PANTHER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE QUEEN’S JEWELS
THE STOLEN SWORD MYSTERY
THE BASKETBALL MYSTERY
THE MOVIE STAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE PIRATE’S MAP
THE GHOST TOWN MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE BLACK RAVEN
THE MYSTERY IN THE MALL
THE MYSTERY IN NEW YORK
THE GYMNASTICS MYSTERY
THE POISON FROG MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE EMPTY SAFE
THE HOME RUN MYSTERY
THE GREAT BICYCLE RACE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD PONIES
THE MYSTERY IN THE COMPUTER GAME
THE HONEYBEE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY AT THE CROOKED HOUSE
THE HOCKEY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIDNIGHT DOG
THE MYSTERY OF THE SCREECH OWL
THE SUMMER CAMP MYSTERY
THE COPYCAT MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CLOCK TOWER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE TIGER’S EYE
THE DISAPPEARING STAIRCASE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY ON BLIZZARD MOUNTAIN
THE MYSTERY OF THE SPIDER’S CLUE
THE CANDY FACTORY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MUMMY’S CURSE
THE MYSTERY OF THE STAR RUBY
THE STUFFED BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF ALLIGATOR SWAMP
THE MYSTERY AT SKELETON POINT
THE TATTLETALE MYSTERY
THE COMIC BOOK MYSTERY
THE GREAT SHARK MYSTERY
THE ICE CREAM MYSTERY
THE MIDNIGHT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE FORTUNE COOKIE
THE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER MYSTERY
THE RADIO MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE RUNAWAY GHOST
THE FINDERS KEEPERS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HAUNTED BOXCAR
THE CLUE IN THE CORN MAZE
THE GHOST OF THE CHATTERING BONES
THE SWORD OF THE SILVER KNIGHT
THE GAME STORE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE ORPHAN TRAIN
THE VANISHING PASSENGER
THE GIANT YO-YO MYSTERY
THE CREATURE IN OGOPOGO LAKE
THE ROCK ’N’ ROLL MYSTERY
THE SECRET OF THE MASK
THE SEATTLE PUZZLE
THE GHOST IN THE FIRST ROW
THE BOX THAT WATCH FOUND
A HORSE NAMED DRAGON
THE GREAT DETECTIVE RACE
THE GHOST AT THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE
THE MYSTERY OF THE TRAVELING TOMATOES
THE SPY GAME
THE DOG-GONE MYSTERY
THE VAMPIRE MYSTERY
SUPERSTAR WATCH
THE SPY IN THE BLEACHERS
THE AMAZING MYSTERY SHOW
THE PUMPKIN HEAD MYSTERY
THE CUPCAKE CAPER
THE CLUE IN THE RECYCLING BIN
MONKEY TROUBLE
THE ZOMBIE PROJECT
THE GREAT TURKEY HEIST
THE GARDEN THIEF
THE BOARDWALK MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE FALLEN TREASURE
THE RETURN OF THE GRAVEYARD GHOST
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN SNOWBOARD
THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD WEST BANDIT
THE MYSTERY OF THE SOCCER SNITCH
THE MYSTERY OF THE GRINNING GARGOYLE
THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING POP IDOL
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN DINOSAUR BONES
THE MYSTERY AT THE CALGARY STAMPEDE
THE SLEEPY HOLLOW MYSTERY
THE LEGEND OF THE IRISH CASTLE
THE CELEBRITY CAT CAPER
HIDDEN IN THE HAUNTED SCHOOL
THE ELECTION DAY DILEMMA
JOURNEY ON A RUNAWAY TRAIN
THE CLUE IN THE PAPYRUS SCROLL
THE DETOUR OF THE ELEPHANTS
THE SHACKLETON SABOTAGE
THE KHIPU AND THE FINAL KEY
THE DOUGHNUT WHODUNIT
THE ROBOT RANSOM
THE LEGEND OF THE HOWLING WEREWOLF
THE DAY OF THE DEAD MYSTERY
THE HUNDRED-YEAR MYSTERY
THE SEA TURTLE MYSTERY
NEW! SECRET ON THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR
NEW! THE POWER DOWN MYSTERY
Copyright © 2019 by Albert Whitman & Company
First published in the United States of America in 2019 by Albert Whitman & Company
ISBN 978-0-8075-2860-0 (paperback)
ISBN 978-0-8075-2861-7 (ebook)
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN® is a registered trademark of Albert Whitman & Company.
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 LB 24 23 22 21 20 19
Illustrations by Hollie Hibbert
Visit the Boxcar Children online at www.boxcarchildren.com.
For more information about Albert Whitman & Company, visit our website at www.albertwhitman.com.
100 years of Albert Whitman & Company
Celebrate with us in 2019!
CHOOSE A PATH.
FOLLOW THE CLUES.
SOLVE THE MYSTERY!
Can you help the Boxcar Children crack the case? Follow the directions at the end of each section to decide what the Aldens do next. But beware—some routes will end the story before the case is solved. After you finish one path, go back and follow the other paths to see how it all turns out!
INVITATION
“I’ll be at the coffee shop across the street. Come over when you’re all set!” said Grandfather. The Aldens were in front of a bookshop in downtown Greenfield. It was a bright and sunny winter day, just cold enough that their breath fogged in the air.
“And don’t rush,” Grandfather added. “Any time spent in a bookshop is time well spent!”
“You got it,” said fourteen-year-old Henry, the oldest of the Alden children. “We’ll find you when we’re done.”
“And you don’t drink too much coffee!” said Jessie. At twelve, Jessie was younger than Henry, but she was often looking after her siblings—and sometimes Grandfather.
“I won’t!” Grandfather said. With a chuckle, he tipped his cap and waved, heading across the street to the café.
Violet’s cheeks were getting pink from the chilly air. She rubbed her nose with her soft, fluffy mitten and eagerly opened the door to the bookshop. There was no ten-year-old who loved reading more than Violet. “I can’t wait to look around,” she said, hurrying inside.
“When we’re done, maybe we can join Grandfather and get some hot cocoa!” said Benny, the last one inside. At six, he was the youngest Alden, and he was usually thinking about snacks. But as soon as he looked inside the bookstore, he forgot all about hot cocoa.
It was a small shop, but every wall was covered end-to-end with books. And in the center of the room were even more rows, each marked with a sign. Benny sounded out the words on the signs. “Mystery,” he said, using a quiet voice. “Fiction. Nonfiction…oh! Those are the types of books on those shelves.”
“That’s right,” said Henry. “The books are sorted by genre.”
“Genre?” Benny did not know that word. “Is that like the type of book?”
Henry nodded. “Exactly. Fantasy, science fiction, history—those are categories books fall into. It’s easier to find books if they are organized that way.”
“Jessie, can we get a new Agent Ada book?” Benny asked.
“Sure,” said Jessie. “I heard the new one just came out last week. Let’s see if you can find it yourself. What genre do you think it would be?”
Benny folded his arms and tapped his chin like he’d seen Henry do when he was thinking. “Let’s see. Agent Ada is a spy. She’s fifteen years old. Is there a type of book for teenage spies?”
Jessie smiled. “I don’t think this shop has a whole shelf for books about teenage spies.”
“There is a children’s and young adult section though,” said Violet. “I bet we can find Agent Ada over there.”
The Aldens wove through the maze of shelves until they got to the back corner of the shop. There, two bookshelves were filled with the types of books Benny recognized. Some were books for people just learning to read, like him. Others, like the Ada Agent series, were bigger books with chapters in them. Benny wasn’t ready to read those yet, but he loved it when Jessie and Henry read them aloud to him and Violet.
“All right, Agent Ada,” Jessie said, putting her hands on her hips. “Where are you?”
Violet brought Benny closer to the bookshelf. “See, Benny? Once you find the right genre, the books are organized by the author’s last name.”
“Agent Ada books are by A.D. Ashton,” Benny said, scanning the names of the authors. “I remember because A.D. Ashton sounds like Ada—it’s a funny coincidence.”
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence,” said Henry. “I think A.D. Ashton is a pen name. That’s when an author puts a made-up name on their books.”
“Why would the author do that?” asked Benny, looking up at Henry.
“Hmm…” said Henry. “I suppose I don’t know. But I’m sure he has his reasons. Some people just like to keep their lives private, you know? Using a pen name protects his identity.”
Benny nodded and started looking for the Agent Ada books again. “I guess that makes sense. Like Agent Ada always says, ‘A spy should never reveal another spy’s secret identity!’ But if I wrote a book, I’d want everyone to know I was the author.”
Violet stood on a little footstool to reach the top shelf on the left. She skimmed the spines, reading the titles and author names quietly. Adams, Anderson, Archer…“Here it is, Benny! I found the Agent Ada books.”
Violet took a book from the shelf and hopped off the footstool. She handed it to Benny, and his eyes widened with excitement. On the cover was Agent Ada, the main character of the series. She had black hair in a ponytail and wore her signature black scarf wrapped high around her face, so only her eyes showed.
“Agent Ada and the Techno Caper,” Violet said, reading the title.
“That’s the new one!” Benny said. “Let’s skip the hot cocoa and go home and read the whole thing!”
Henry laughed. “Take it easy. If we read it all at once, it’ll be over too fast.”
“Henry’s right,” Violet said. “Let’s take our time and make it last.”
“Oh, fine,” Benny said. “Violet, let’s see what else is here. Maybe there are other books about spies that we might like too.”
As the Aldens split up, Jessie found her way to the gardening section. She wanted to find the perfect flowers to plant by the boxcar for when spring came around.
At one time, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny had lived in the boxcar. That was after their parents had died. It was the only place the children could find. It wasn’t much, but they had been together as a family, and they had come to love it. So when Grandfather found them and brought them to live in Greenfield, he had brought the boxcar too. Now it sat in their backyard, and they used it as their clubhouse.
“It would look lovely with daffodils,” Jessie said to herself, imagining light-yellow flowers beside the red boxcar.
All of a sudden, Jessie felt a tickling on her shoulder. It felt as though someone was watching her. Jessie looked around but didn’t see anyone. Maybe I imagined it, she thought to herself.
After a while, the Aldens gathered at the register. Benny and Violet had each found a second book they wanted to read, and Henry had two thick sports books. Jessie added her book about perennials to the pile, making six books altogether.
The clerk was an older woman with thick gray hair and even thicker glasses, which made her eyes look big and round like an owl’s. She smiled as she rang up the books, putting them one at a time into a paper bag. After she was done, she reached to hand Henry the change.
“Oops!” Four coins slipped out of the clerk’s hand. Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny all stooped to pick the coins up off the ground.
When Jessie stood back up, she saw the clerk smoothing out the paper bag. “Sorry about that,” the clerk said. It almost seemed as if her big owl eyes were smiling, but it was difficult to tell through her glasses. “My fingers aren’t as nimble as they used to be.”
“It’s no problem, ma’am,” said Henry. The Aldens thanked the clerk and left the store, bundling up and hurrying across the street to the café.
They found Grandfather enjoying a mug of tea while he read the paper. “Did you find some bookish treasures?” he asked.
“
Yes, we each found something we liked,” Violet said.
“And we got the newest Agent Ada book to read together,” said Benny, showing Grandfather.
“Techno-Caper, eh?” asked Grandfather, raising a brow. “Sounds very exciting. That Ada always uses interesting gadgets during her adventures. Sounds like this one will be extra exciting…Oh, what’s this?”
A slip of paper was sticking out of the Agent Ada book. Violet took it out from between the pages. It looked like a bookmark made out of fancy silver paper with black ink.
Violet read the writing on the bookmark and gasped.
“What does it say?” Benny asked.
“It’s an invitation,” said Violet. She gave the bookmark to Henry, who read it aloud.
Dear Young Ada-mirers,
You are cordially invited to the Great Spy Showdown, a competition to put your sleuthing and spy skills to the test. Four teams have been chosen, but only one will win the chance to meet A.D. Ashton, author of the Agent Ada spy series.
“A spy competition?” Jessie said with a gasp of delight. “And only four teams are invited—we got pretty lucky, didn’t we?”
“Grandfather, can we go?” Violet asked. “After all of our mysteries and adventures, we’ve learned a lot about getting information. I bet we could win and meet A.D. Ashton—maybe even learn his real name!”
Grandfather looked over the bookmark. “Looks like the competition is happening upstate, in Chester Hills—very nice area and a lovely drive as well. Of course you can go. I would be glad to take you.”
“Hooray!” cried Benny.
While Benny and Violet finished their cocoa, Jessie turned the bookmark over and back again.
“I don’t remember seeing this in the Agent Ada book when we brought it to the checkout counter,” she said to Henry.
“Me either,” said Henry. “That’s strange, but it would have been easy to miss.”
Jessie slipped the bookmark back into the book with a smile. Perhaps the excitement of the spy competition had already begun.
CONTINUE
ARRIVAL
On the day of the Great Spy Showdown, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny climbed into Grandfather’s car and rode through the snow-covered hills to the address written on the invitation. Their destination was a large estate in a grove of dark green trees, sitting atop a hill that overlooked rolling valleys filled with soft white snow.
The manor itself was large and modern. There was a main entryway with an identical-looking wing on either side. The lantern near the front door was decorated with ribbons that were the same color as the bookmark the Aldens had received.