The Boxcar Children

Jessie, 12, is, with Henry, co-leader of the four kids, but she tends to make more of the decisions, especially about Violet and Benny. She’s very smart and perceptive and has a knack for quickly coming up with solutions to problems. Now that the children are orphans, Jessie takes on the role of mother to her younger siblings, much as Henry steps in as their father figure. She protects and loves them fiercely.

Aside from being a good organizer and leader, Jessie’s strongest skill set is cooking. In no time, she can whip up a delicious meal out of the plainest food, and she enjoys trying different and unusual recipes.

Jessie has a serene, gentle self-assurance that young readers can admire. Despite the many dangers she must face, she’s brave and ever willing to do what’s needed to overcome any challenge.

With Henry, Jessie is a main protagonist and heroic figure in the story. While guiding her younger siblings to find rocks for a fireplace and a dam, she becomes a rock-solid foundation for them. Jessie and Henry are a well-balanced team with good minds that contribute to each other’s ideas. They work together on the challenges that confront their orphaned family. 

Violet, 10, is shy but eager and able to contribute to the Boxcar family life. She has “pretty brown hair and brown eyes” (23), and she’s bright, big-hearted, and always helpful. She knows how to talk to her younger brother when he gets balky, so he’s willing to help with family tasks. Violet is a pivotal character: Her illness brings the Boxcar Children together with their grandfather, and it is she who, at the story’s end, promises Mr. Alden that they will always be with him.

As the younger of the two Alden sisters, she bridges the age gap between her older siblings, Henry and Jessie, and her younger brother, Benny. Her bright and cheerful personality and Benny’s innocent enthusiasm help set the younger kids apart from the older, more serious personalities of Jessie and Henry.

At age five, Benny is the youngest of the Boxcar Children. He’s enthusiastic, friendly, and endearing. He likes almost everyone, tends to bring people together in their common affection for him, and has a knack for blurting out the truth that forces others to deal with problems. As a story character, he’s important, especially to the youngest readers, who, like Benny, are just learning to read and can identify with him in many ways.

Dr. Moore lives with his mother in a nice neighborhood in Silver City. He hires Henry to do basic household chores, including mowing, gardening, washing, and cleaning the garage. Privately, he keeps an eye on the Boxcar Children to make sure they’re safe and in good health. When he figures out that they’re the grandchildren of Mr. Alden, he delays informing the man while the kids enjoy their adventure of learning how to take care of themselves. When the time is right, he tells Mr. Alden about them.

Dr. Moore is the major supporting character of the story. His name suggests a mooring or safe harbor for the kids. He helps the Boxcar Children ready themselves for life with their grandfather: If they moved in with him too soon, they might do so unwillingly, but if first, they become independent, they’ll join Mr. Alden because they want to, not because they need to. This is Dr. Moore’s greatest gift to them.

The Boxcar Children have a wealthy grandfather, James Henry Alden, whom they’ve never met and whom they fear is a bad person. He owns mills in the nearby valley and holds a Field Day of racing each year for young people. He and Henry meet there but fail to recognize each other. When Violet becomes very ill, he visits her and the children at Dr. Moore’s house but keeps quiet about who he is until they get used to him and discover for themselves that they like him very much.

Powerful and prone to impatience, Mr. Alden looms in the story as a threatening antagonist, but he learns to wait until the children get to know and like him before he becomes their benefactor. Mr. Alden overcomes his tendency to demand what he wants and instead revives his natural kindness in the presence of his grandchildren.

For the Boxcar Children, he comes to symbolize the big, powerful, possibly dangerous, and potentially wonderful world that the children must learn to deal with to grow up successfully. The resources he offers aren’t useful to them until they first learn how to take care of themselves. He joins their life at the right moment when they’re ready to accept his kindness.

Watch is a dog who shows up at the boxcar with a thorn in his paw. He and the kids adopt each other, and he becomes a guardian and friend. Illustrations in all versions of the book show him as an Airdale, a medium-sized dog, usually with a black body, tan legs, and a bearded head. Often used as a guard dog, an Airdale make a good choice as a companion for the kids.

Watch—named after Henry’s comment that he’d make a good “watchdog”—belongs to others, but the kids convince the adults to give Watch to them. Their dedication to Watch also reflects their devotion to each other: Any person or pooch who’s part of their family becomes someone they’ll protect with all their might.

Dr. Moore’s mother, Mrs. Moore, lives with him in Silver City. Wise, friendly, and kind to the Boxcar Children, Mrs. Moore supports her son in his efforts to help and protect the kids. Alongside him, she quietly monitors the children to ensure they’re safe and have enough supplies in their boxcar. She makes sure Mr. Alden quells his impatience to bring them into his life, lest he scare them off. Mrs. Moore is a minor character who helps set the tone of the Moore family as caring and dedicated to the children’s well-being.