When their favorite pizza restaurant almost goes out of business, the Alden children try to help their friends stay open while they find out who is behind all their problems.

At the same time that the Alden children's efforts to raise money for a new hospital wing are being sabotaged by nasty tricks, they find their attempts to befriend the new girl Beth frustrated by her strange behavior.

When Lord Cucuface, head of Madeline's school, takes a telescope from the attic during a surprise inspection, its ghostly owner convinces Madeline to help get it back, with help from neighbor Pepito and her fellow orphans.

The Boxcar Children are spending the summer out west on Mystery Ranch where they must help their friend, Mike, prove he is innocent of starting a fire.

Annie, who lives at mean Miss Hannigan's orphanage, gets the chance for a new life when the very wealthy Daddy Warbucks invites her to stay at his home for Christmas then offers to adopt her.

The Boxcar Children, now living with their grandfather, spend the summer on their Aunt Jane's ranch. Their aunt seems quite unhappy until at the end of the summer a surprise discovery brings happiness to all.

Four orphaned children run away and live in a boxcar, until they are found by their grandfather. Includes a biography and photographs of the author.

The Boxcar Children are spending the summer in a remote fishing village on the New England coast, where they try to find out the secret of a suspicious man snooping in the village library.

"Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny used to live alone in a boxcar. Now they have a home with their grandfather and are spending the summer on their own private island. There's a mysterious stranger on the island who must keep his identity a secret. And that's not the only surprise in store for the Boxcar Children on Surprise Island!"--Page 4 of cover.