The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm (review)

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.