Horn Book Review
Created by Gertrude Chandler Warner. The Alden children stumble upon one mystery while learning to recycle (Bin) and encounter another at a local award-winning cupcake shop (Caper). These contemporary additions to the long-running series rely more on familiarity than solid writing; the children have few defining characteristics, the plots are farfetched, and the setting is indeterminate. [Review covers these Boxcar Children Mysteries titles: The Clue in the Recycling Bin and The Cupcake Caper.] (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
In this ecothemed Boxcar Children Mystery, the orphaned Alden siblings stumble into their latest sleuthing challenge when they sign up to volunteer at their local recycling center, run by Kayla, a jeweler who works with reclaimed material. After learning about unexplained break-ins at the center, the kids fit together clues that eventually lead to larger crimes, and they help smooth over friction among cranky neighbors along the way. As in the series' numerous earlier entries, this title offers up the familiar formula of a gentle mystery that's neatly solved by cooperation among the siblings, who are defined by distinctive personality traits and in Papp's frequent full-page pencil drawings. The simply phrased, smoothly integrated information about basic terms ( I know what a natural resource is,' announced Benny. It's trees and land and water') as well as recycling and its benefits to both the environment and communities adds extra appeal to this solid series entry that will keep readers guessing until the final pages.--Engberg, Gillia. Copyright 2010 Booklist
