The Boxcar Children - Surprise Island — Chapter 5

About This Passage

This passage is one of the strongest hints yet that Joe is hiding who he really is. He goes into a library, names dozens of specific books from memory, and walks out leaving the librarian and her helper staring after him. Notice that Warner gives the surprise to people who do not know Joe at all — the library girl and the small boy. They are seeing Joe with fresh eyes, and what they see does not fit a handyman. The phrase 'the strange handyman' is the narrator quietly nudging the reader to remember Henry's exact words. Satisfies criteria B (the unbroken sentence rhythm), C (the use of strangers' eyes to confirm what Henry has only suspected), and D (the theme of how a hidden identity slowly reveals itself).

Narration Prompt

In your own words, tell the story of this chapter. What were the most important moments? What made them important — and how do you know?

Discussion Questions

1. Joe could have asked the library girl to pick out books for him, but instead he names dozens of titles from memory. Why do you think the chapter shows the library girl needing to write 'very fast'? What is Warner showing about Joe?
2. Henry has the museum idea, and the family agrees to it almost instantly. There is no debate about whether it is a good plan. Compare this family's decision-making to a family that has to vote on every choice. What makes the Aldens able to agree so quickly?

+ 3 more questions in the complete study guide