The Yellow House Mystery, Book 3 of the Boxcar Children
Gertrude Chandler Warner
Children Ages 8-12
What starts as a simple summer exploration of a mysterious house leads the Alden children on a full-fledged adventure as they look for Bill McGregor, a man who mysteriously disappeared forty years ago. The children don't know exactly where he went, or even if he is still alive, but they are determined to discover the truth about what happened to Mr. McGregor.
Questions Just for Fun
If you were one of the Alden children, would you have been more excited about seeing the moose or the bear on your adventure?
What would you have done to try to get the hermit to talk to you?
Questions to Think Critically and Biblically
In the book, the children learn that Mr. McGregor ran away because he lost $4,000 that belonged to Mr. Alden. As humans, can we ever truly run away from our sin?
Discussion Guide - Read Psalm 139:7-12. Discuss how there is nowhere we can go that God is not already there. Then discuss how the proper response to sin is not to run but to confess and repent.
Both Mr. McGregor and Mrs. McGregor falsely believed the other one had died. However, Mr. McGregor seems to be much older and frailer than Mrs. McGregor when he returns. What decisions in Mr. McGregor’s life led to this?
Discussion Guide - Discuss how Mr. McGregor hid himself away and would not interact with anyone, while Mrs. McGregor kept caring for the Aldens and interacting with others. According to the biblical worldview, God designed us in His image. Because God, in and of Himself, is relational, we are relational too. We need others (Genesis 1:27). Also, Mr. McGregor hid his sin instead of confessing and repenting. When we do this, we waste away (Psalm 32:1-5).
How do we see Mr. Alden extend grace to Mr. McGregor?
Discussion Guide - Discuss how Mr. Alden forgives Mr. McGregor and lets him live in the yellow house and care for the horses again.
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