The Castle Mystery

This is a fun story! The Boxcar Children is one of my favorite series. The Alden children are very industrious and know how to do most anything, and if not, they are more than willing to learn. Polite, adventurous and always ready for a mystery, this book finds the family helping with the restoration of an old castle. It begins with a light in a tower where there shouldn't be a light. Add in some grumpy adults who won't give the children the credit they deserve. The kids work hard every day sorting through antiques, books and removing dust covers, but they still have time to explore the castle and solve the mystery of a missing musical instrument. The description of the castle and all of the passages and secret rooms is excellent. I believe this is the last book in the series.

When their grandfather's friend, Carrie Bell, invites the Alden youngsters to help her restore an old castle, the children become involved in searching for a missing Stradivarius violin, investigating mysterious lights and following a treasure map. Can the children solve the mystery hidden within the castle?

Children who are creative thinkers and problem-solvers will enjoy trying to solve the mystery found in #36 of the Boxcar Children series. The story takes place in dreary Drummond Castle, a smaller version of a German castle that is built on a cliff with a cave beneath. The Alden family has been invited by Grandfather's friend, Carrie Bell, to help turn the once-magnificent home into a museum. When the Alden children learn that a Stradivarius violin owned by the original Mr. Drummond has disappeared, they work together to find the missing instrument. Three shady characters become the children's suspects: Mr. Tooner, the groundskeeper; Sandy Munson, Carrie's assistant; and Tom Brady, the antiques expert. As the Aldens bravely encounter seeing lights coming from uninhabited parts of the castle, hearing eerie music at night, and being locked in the cave, they succeed in figuring out who really has the valuable violin--and the true identity of one of the suspects comes as a surprise to all! Being a second-grade teacher, I recommend this book to children who are entering the world of chapter books. The spooky setting and strange happenings will keep young readers highly interested. The clues and foreshadowing of the book will stimulate higher-level thinking skills, as well. Parents or teachers who read this book aloud to children will undoubtedly have insightful discussions as they try together to solve the mystery.

Besides The Boxcar Children, The Castle Mytery was the best Boxcar Children mystery I have ever read. And I have read 34 Boxcar Children Mysterys. Anyone who loves The Boxcar Children just has to own this. Its great. Get it as soon as you can. It is so good you will read it in 2 days! Kids from age 8 to 12 just have to read this and own it.

We (Casey & Sarah) think this is a cool book. They made you think that it was someone else all along. The castle was a neat place with lots of hidden things. (We don't want to spoil it for you). But it is worth reading so that you can find out about the Drummond violin.