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 has been stranded in their car during a blizzard.

While canoeing and backpacking near Timberwolf Lake, the Aldens receive strange warnings to stay away from the area and stumble upon clues to a missing cache of stolen coins.

At the request of their distant relative Althea, the Boxcar Children arrive at her old Virginia mansion and investigate the mysterious incidents happening there.

Boxcar Children #1 -- Henry, Jessie, Violet and Bennie are orphans. Can they find a home where they can stay together as a family? Boxcar Children #2 -- The Aldens spend the summer on their own private island. There they meet a new friend with an amazing secret! Boxcar Children #3 Years ago, a man vanished from the yellow house on Surprise Island. Why? The Aldens have found a clue to the mystery!

The Alden children are determined to find out the story of the strange new family who moved in the neighborhood.

Benny tries to figure out why his dog, Watch, keeps escaping from the yard.

The Boxcar Children know how much work it takes to live in the wilderness. They also know how much fun it can be! The children love exploring and learning new things at a primitive skills summer camp. But when strange things start happening around the camp, they need to use another of their favorite skills--mystery solving!

When Benny decides to dig a hole in the back yard, Grandfather gives him an old map that leads to a special discovery.

The Alden children have another mystery to solve when they visit a castle and must figure out which of the guests has stolen the Stradivarius violin.

Someone is trying to put Aunt Jane's motel out of business, but the Alden children aren't going to let that happen.