  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 08/01/2012 MacLachlan, the author of Newbery Medal–winning Sarah, Plain and Tall (1985), takes on the story of Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny before they were the Boxcar Children. Life is simple at Fair Meadow farm: chores, school, and time for fun. When a family gets stuck in a snowstorm, the Aldens take them in and become fast friends. All the children put on a circus, dressing one of the cows up as an elephant. But those familiar with the series know that something devastating is on the way. And toward the end of the book, Mr. and Mrs. Alden head to town and don’t come back. The sheriff tells the kids there’s been a car accident. Oddly, there’s little emotion, with the siblings focused on how to avoid being sent to their estranged grandfather. Even young readers may find it strange that a couple who is ready to take care of them (but is unable to because of “the law”) helps them run away. Both in style and events, this recalls books written in a much earlier era. But series fans will like this glimpse into the Aldens’ previous life. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The combination of MacLachlan’s name and the long-running popularity of the series ensures interest in this prequel. - Copyright 2012 Booklist. Bulletin for the Center... - 10/01/2012 Before they found themselves in the titular boxcar, the Alden kids were just four siblings happily living on their parents’ farm, doing chores, and going to school. This prequel chronicles their pre-boxcar days through four seasons as the children welcome a struggling family into their home, make new friends, create secret hideaways, and put on plays for their loving parents. Readers familiar with Gertrude Chandler Warner’s original iterations of the children’s story will know that tragedy brings an end to this idyll, and MacLachlan treats the death of children’s parents and the children’s subsequent running away with both compassion and restraint. The tone echoes the old-school charm of the original series, while short sentences, a straightforward plot, and plenty of dialogue make it an obvious choice for readers just transitioning into chapter books. Fans of the series will be pleased by this gentle addition, and others may very well be inspired to discover what lies in store for Henry, Violet, Jessie, and Benny. Final illustrations not seen. KQG - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. School Library Journal - 12/01/2012 Gr 2–4—Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny have a place in the hearts and on the bookshelves of so many families, and this perfectly positioned prequel will delight fans of the Alden children who have always wondered what happened before the Boxcar Children became the Boxcar Children. During the Great Depression, the family is living at Fairweather Farm. When the Clarks lose their home and are on their way to live with relatives, they become stuck during a blizzard, and the Aldens take them in. Many weeks go by until the part arrives to fix their car. The Alden and Clark children become good friends and attend school together, and when the Clarks leave, the children deal with their sadness. When the sheriff comes to give the Alden children the news that will change their lives forever, the Boxcar Children's journey truly begins. The innocence of the children is well captured through their straightforward dialogue, and each child has a distinct personality that will appeal to old fans and new readers of the series. Gently written, and harkening to a simpler time, this story will be an enjoyable family read and will serve as an easy-to-understand chapter book for emerging readers. Doubtlessly, the series will see reinvigorated interest from this title by an author whose talent for historical fiction will not be lost on young readers.—Alison Donnelly, Collinsville Memorial Public Library, IL - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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