The Social Porcupine

Hello, Life The mystery was over, but all the Lawrences' problems were not. The very next day, during lunch, Lucy heard a wagon. Immediately her heart jumped with fear. The children were at school (or should be). Vern was in the mines. It wasn't time for Tom and Mary to bring milk – why would anybody be coming? Lucy searched the room for Julie. Her little sister was sitting by the fireplace playing with the rag doll they had found in the mine's secret room. Lucy wiped her hands on her apron and walked to the door, trying to calm her fear. She didn't recognize the small buggy. But when it drew even closer she knew them to be some of the women from church. Lucy drew in a quick and painful breath. This could not be good – and she was all alone. There was no possible way she could go get Vern. “Hello, Lucy!” One of the women in the buggy waved. Lucy recognized the woman to be Delta, a well known lady from the church whose husband had recently retire...

Good Job, Julie! Julie lay in a frightened heap, crying. She was scared – it was dark and she was all alone. She heard Fred-O calling for her but she couldn't stop crying to call for help. His voice disappeared. Now she was even more alone and her crying increased. Thoughts of her mother entered her little mind. She wanted her – but her mother had been gone a long time. And Julie couldn't understand why. “Lucy!” Julie managed to shout between her sobbing. Lucy would take care of her if her mother couldn't. Her arm hurt. She had fallen on it when she had leaned too far into the dark hole. Julie heard footsteps. “Julie!” It was Vern and Lucy and Ann and Noah and Fred-O. She could hear their footsteps on the shack floor, making a loud noise like wind. “Julie,” Lucy called out. Julie couldn't answer, only cry. “Look!” Noah shouted. “The trap door is open.” All the voices moved and crowded around the opening. Julie saw all of her siblings...

Fred-O is Frightened “They buried him in autumn Yet couldn't hide their guilt. Fred-O spoke what was so Who lives half as good?” Fred-O held onto his seat as Noah guided the horse and small wagon (they had stopped using the sleigh weeks ago to go to school) over the rough ground. Fred-O sang heartily at the top of his lungs, his beloved song, singing the same words over and over. Ann seemed about ready to jump out of the wagon. Fred-O wondered if it was more because she was irritated with the song, or if she were overjoyed that it was spring. The bumps of the wagon weren't suiting her excitement too well – but they added a nice texture to Fred-O's song. Fred-O laughed – Ann was funny. Suddenly she did jump out, and started running to the cabin. Lucy was outside taking dry clothes from off the line. “It's spring!” Ann shouted. The words sounded good to Fred-O's ears for many reasons. School would be out soon. And the ground was al...

Patricia MacLachlan (author of Journey, The Sarah Plain and Tall books, and many more wonderful children's books), takes up a task that suits her skills perfectly! Prequel of the Boxcar Children books!!! I love the first 19 Boxcar children books (the only ones actually written by the original author). I would have been hesitant about this book hadn't it been for the author... one of my favorites. I thought, "What a splendid idea! One she is perfect for ." :) Back Cover Review : In the year before they become the orphans known as the Boxcar Children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden live with their parents at Fair Meadow Farm, where, although times are hard, they take in a family who have been stranded in their car during a blizzard. My Review : The four Aldens learn what family means, growing up during the depression on their small farm, Fairmeadow. Even when things are hard, the family shares with neighbors, friends, strangers alike. None of them ar...