Four young orphans discover an abandoned boxcar and move in, embarking on a life of self-reliance and hard work -- but they also enter a world of freedom and adventure. Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are afraid of the grandfather they've never met, and to escape his custody they set out on their own, working odd jobs to make money for necessities. When Violet falls ill, they're forced to take her to a doctor . . . and risk losing their independence.
This new hardcover volume reprints the original 1924 edition, including the illustrations. Ranked among the all-time "Top 100 Chapter Books" in a School Library Journal survey, The Box-Car Children is also among the National Education Association's "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children."