BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSHenry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden are four orphaned siblings with no home and almost no money, traveling on their own because they are afraid their only living relative, a grandfather they have never met, will be cruel to them. When a baker and his wife plan to split up the children and send little Benny away, the four sneak out in the middle of the night. Deep in the woods near a town called Silver City, they discover an old abandoned boxcar on a rusty, overgrown track, and Jessie has an idea: what if they made it their home?
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Boxcar Children
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about The Boxcar Children. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a baker's wife agree to let orphans sleep on red benches with flat pillows?
✓ Answer
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Jessie spots the long red benches under the bakery windows and asks if the children can sleep there in exchange for helping wash dishes. The baker's wife agrees because she dislikes washing dishes herself.
- First half
In what book does a boy thin out carrots, turnips, and little onions in a kind woman's garden?
✓ Answer
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Mrs. Moore asks Henry to thin the vegetables that are growing too close together. When he asks if he may take the pulled ones, she says yes and asks if he has chickens, and he is glad he does not have to answer.
- First half
In what book does a boy go to sleep with his new hammer under his pillow?
✓ Answer
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Henry is so excited about his new hammer from Dr. Moore that he sleeps with it under his pillow. He laughs at himself for being as silly as Benny, who falls asleep with his hand on his new cart.
- Second half
In what book does a runner wear number 4 and pass everyone to win a foot race?
✓ Answer
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Henry runs as Number 4 in the free-for-all. He falls behind at first but then decides to see how fast he can go, passing runner after runner until he crosses the line first.
- Second half
In what book do kids make a homemade book out of paper from bundles and a burned stick?
✓ Answer
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Jessie and Violet decide to teach Benny to read, but they have no books. They use paper from old grocery bundles and burn the end of a stick to write the words.
- Near the end
In what book does a doctor drive straight to a hidden home in the woods without ever asking for directions?
✓ Answer
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
When Henry begs Dr. Moore to come help Violet, the doctor drives right to the woods without any instructions. He has secretly known where the children live for a long time.
