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The Great Greenfield Bake-Off
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THE BOXCAR CHILDREN® MYSTERIES
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN
SURPRISE ISLAND
THE YELLOW HOUSE MYSTERY
MYSTERY RANCH
MIKE’S MYSTERY
BLUE BAY MYSTERY
THE WOODSHED MYSTERY
THE LIGHTHOUSE MYSTERY
MOUNTAIN TOP MYSTERY
SCHOOLHOUSE MYSTERY
CABOOSE MYSTERY
HOUSEBOAT MYSTERY
SNOWBOUND MYSTERY
TREE HOUSE MYSTERY
BICYCLE MYSTERY
MYSTERY IN THE SAND
MYSTERY BEHIND THE WALL
BUS STATION MYSTERY
BENNY UNCOVERS A MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CABIN MYSTERY
THE DESERTED LIBRARY MYSTERY
THE ANIMAL SHELTER MYSTERY
THE OLD MOTEL MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN PAINTING
THE AMUSEMENT PARK MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIXED-UP ZOO
THE CAMP-OUT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY GIRL
THE MYSTERY CRUISE
THE DISAPPEARING FRIEND MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SINGING GHOST
THE MYSTERY IN THE SNOW
THE PIZZA MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY HORSE
THE MYSTERY AT THE DOG SHOW
THE CASTLE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST VILLAGE
THE MYSTERY ON THE ICE
THE MYSTERY OF THE PURPLE POOL
THE GHOST SHIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN WASHINGTON, DC
THE CANOE TRIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN BEACH
THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING CAT
THE MYSTERY AT SNOWFLAKE INN
THE MYSTERY ON STAGE
THE DINOSAUR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN MUSIC
THE MYSTERY AT THE BALL PARK
THE CHOCOLATE SUNDAE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HOT AIR BALLOON
THE MYSTERY BOOKSTORE
THE PILGRIM VILLAGE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN BOXCAR
THE MYSTERY IN THE CAVE
THE MYSTERY ON THE TRAIN
THE MYSTERY AT THE FAIR
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST MINE
THE GUIDE DOG MYSTERY
THE HURRICANE MYSTERY
THE PET SHOP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SECRET MESSAGE
THE FIREHOUSE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN SAN FRANCISCO
THE NIAGARA FALLS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY AT THE ALAMO
THE OUTER SPACE MYSTERY
THE SOCCER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE OLD ATTIC
THE GROWLING BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LAKE MONSTER
THE MYSTERY AT PEACOCK HALL
THE WINDY CITY MYSTERY
THE BLACK PEARL MYSTERY
THE CEREAL BOX MYSTERY
THE PANTHER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE QUEEN’S JEWELS
THE STOLEN SWORD MYSTERY
THE BASKETBALL MYSTERY
THE MOVIE STAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE PIRATE’S MAP
THE GHOST TOWN MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE BLACK RAVEN
THE MYSTERY IN THE MALL
THE MYSTERY IN NEW YORK
THE GYMNASTICS MYSTERY
THE POISON FROG MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE EMPTY SAFE
THE HOME RUN MYSTERY
THE GREAT BICYCLE RACE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD PONIES
THE MYSTERY IN THE COMPUTER GAME
THE HONEYBEE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY AT THE CROOKED HOUSE
THE HOCKEY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIDNIGHT DOG
THE MYSTERY OF THE SCREECH OWL
THE SUMMER CAMP MYSTERY
THE COPYCAT MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CLOCK TOWER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE TIGER’S EYE
THE DISAPPEARING STAIRCASE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY ON BLIZZARD MOUNTAIN
THE MYSTERY OF THE SPIDER’S CLUE
THE CANDY FACTORY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MUMMY’S CURSE
THE MYSTERY OF THE STAR RUBY
THE STUFFED BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF ALLIGATOR SWAMP
THE MYSTERY AT SKELETON POINT
THE TATTLETALE MYSTERY
THE COMIC BOOK MYSTERY
THE GREAT SHARK MYSTERY
THE ICE CREAM MYSTERY
THE MIDNIGHT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE FORTUNE COOKIE
THE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER MYSTERY
THE RADIO MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE RUNAWAY GHOST
THE FINDERS KEEPERS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HAUNTED BOXCAR
THE CLUE IN THE CORN MAZE
THE GHOST OF THE CHATTERING BONES
THE SWORD OF THE SILVER KNIGHT
THE GAME STORE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE ORPHAN TRAIN
THE VANISHING PASSENGER
THE GIANT YO-YO MYSTERY
THE CREATURE IN OGOPOGO LAKE
THE ROCK ’N’ ROLL MYSTERY
THE SECRET OF THE MASK
THE SEATTLE PUZZLE
THE GHOST IN THE FIRST ROW
THE BOX THAT WATCH FOUND
A HORSE NAMED DRAGON
THE GREAT DETECTIVE RACE
THE GHOST AT THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE
THE MYSTERY OF THE TRAVELING TOMATOES
THE SPY GAME
THE DOG-GONE MYSTERY
THE VAMPIRE MYSTERY
SUPERSTAR WATCH
THE SPY IN THE BLEACHERS
THE AMAZING MYSTERY SHOW
THE PUMPKIN HEAD MYSTERY
THE CUPCAKE CAPER
THE CLUE IN THE RECYCLING BIN
MONKEY TROUBLE
THE ZOMBIE PROJECT
THE GREAT TURKEY HEIST
THE GARDEN THIEF
THE BOARDWALK MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE FALLEN TREASURE
THE RETURN OF THE GRAVEYARD GHOST
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN SNOWBOARD
THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD WEST BANDIT
THE MYSTERY OF THE SOCCER SNITCH
THE MYSTERY OF THE GRINNING GARGOYLE
THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING POP IDOL
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN DINOSAUR BONES
THE MYSTERY AT THE CALGARY STAMPEDE
THE SLEEPY HOLLOW MYSTERY
THE LEGEND OF THE IRISH CASTLE
THE CELEBRITY CAT CAPER
HIDDEN IN THE HAUNTED SCHOOL
THE ELECTION DAY DILEMMA
THE DOUGHNUT WHODUNIT
THE ROBOT RANSOM
THE LEGEND OF THE HOWLING WEREWOLF
THE DAY OF THE DEAD MYSTERY
THE HUNDRED-YEAR MYSTERY
THE SEA TURTLE MYSTERY
SECRET ON THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR
THE POWER DOWN MYSTERY
MYSTERY AT CAMP SURVIVAL
THE MYSTERY OF THE FORGOTTEN FAMILY
THE SKELETON KEY MYSTERY
SCIENCE FAIR SABOTAGE
NEW! THE GREAT GREENFIELD BAKE-OFF
NEW! THE BEEKEEPER MYSTERY
Copyright © 2021 by Albert Whitman & Company
First published in the United States of America
in 2021 by Albert Whitman & Company
ISBN 978-0-8075-0820-6 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-8075-0821-3 (paperback)
ISBN 978-0-8075-0822-0 (ebook)
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publisher.
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN® is a registered
trademark of Albert Whitman & Company.
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 LB 26 25 24 23 22 21
Illustrations by Anthony VanArsdale
Visit The Boxcar Children® online at www.boxcarchildren.com.
For more information about Albert Whitman & Company,
visit our website at www.albertwhitman.com.
Contents
1. A Contest
2. Signing Up
3. Something Strange
4. The Contest Begins
5. It’s a Mystery
6. Round Two
7. Trouble in the Tent
8. Who’s to Blame?
9. Pie Problems
10. The Winner Is…
The Beekeeper Mystery
A Contest
“Henry!” Six-year-old Benny came running from the playground, across the green grass. He was shouting his older brother’s name. “HENRY! HENRY! HENRY!” In his hand was a yellow piece of paper. He shouted for his sisters too. “JESSIE! VIOLET! JESSIE! VIOLET!”
“What’s going on, Benny?” Henry raised his eyes from the book he was reading. The playground was close to where Henry, Violet, and Jessie had laid out their picnic blanket. This spot, under the old oak tree, was perfect for both watching Benny play and resting in the shade.
“The best thing ever is going to happen here in Greenfield!” Benny waved the flyer. He repeated with pure joy, “Best thing ever!”
“Well, are you going to tell us?” Twelve-year-old Jessie was cutting recipes out of a magazine and sorting them into a file box.
“Guess!” Benny challenged. He playfully tucked the flyer behind his back.
“Is it a new mystery?” Violet was ten. She stopped doodling with colored pencils on a drawing pad and studied Benny’s face.
The Aldens were known around town for being great detectives.
Henry smiled. “It’s been a little while since we solved a mystery.”
“Sounds like fun,” Jessie agreed.
“That’s a good guess,” Benny said. He pinched his lips and shook his head. “But it’s not a mystery.” He laughed. “Want to guess again?”
Henry was fourteen. The others looked to him as if he might know since he was the oldest. “Hmm,” Henry rubbed his chin. “Let’s see.” He rattled off the clues. “Benny is excited. He’s holding a yellow flyer. And it’s not a mystery.” Henry looked at his sisters. “What do those clues mean to you?”
“There’s only one thing that Benny likes as much as mysteries,” Jessie said with a wink.
The other Alden siblings said in unison, “Food.”
Violet laughed so hard her two dark-brown ponytails shook.
“Yes,” Henry agreed. “Benny loves eating.” He stared at Benny for a long moment then added, “And contests!”
Jessie pushed back a strand of her long brown hair and thought about the possibilities. “It might be an eating contest.”
“Remember the hot dog eating competition?” Henry said with a laugh. “Benny ate the most hot dogs and won first place.”
“I think,” Violet said thoughtfully, “since last year’s town competition was a food-eating contest, this year’s is probably—”
“A food-making contest?” said Henry.
Jessie turned to Benny and asked, “Is there going to be a baking contest in Greenfield?”
Benny brought the flyer around his back. He handed it to Henry with a smile. “One hundred and ten percent correct,” he said. “The Aldens are the best guessers.” Then he looked sideways at his family. “But are they the best bakers too?”
“Not me.” Henry laughed while running a hand over his thick dark hair. “I burned the toast this morning.”
“I’m an artist,” Violet said. “I’d rather draw a cake than bake one.”
“Jessie can do it!” Benny said. “She made my birthday cake this year.” He rubbed his belly. “And it was delicious! My tummy is still saying thank you.”
Jessie was up to the challenge. “Tell us what the flyer says,” she told Henry. “I could try.”
Henry studied the announcement. “It’s the Great Greenfield Bake-Off, a baking competition for kids.” He checked the rules. “You need two people for a team. Everyone must bake desserts.”
“I’ll help,” Benny said. “I can be the taster!”
“You can’t eat everything I make,” Jessie told him. “If we’re a team, you have to be the sous-chef.”
“The soup chef?” Benny licked his lips. “I do love soup.”
“Sous,” Jessie corrected. “It’s a French word. It sounds like sue. You don’t say the last s. The assistant to the main chef is called the sous-chef. For our team, you’d be the second baker in charge.”
“I like it!” Benny cheered. “With Benny as sous, Team Alden comes through!” He smiled and said, “It rhymes.”
Henry, Jessie, and Violet all chuckled.
“Violet and I will be in the audience,” Henry said.
“We can cheer you on,” Violet said. “I’ll make signs.”
Excited about this new adventure, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny went back to their boxcar to get started right away on the perfect recipes for the baking contest. Sign-ups were the next day, and there was a form to fill out.
The Alden children lived with their grandfather. After their parents had died, they’d run away and hidden in a railroad boxcar in the woods. The children had heard that Grandfather Alden was mean. Even though they’d never met him, they were afraid. But when Grandfather finally found the children, they discovered he wasn’t mean at all. Now the children lived in his house in Greenfield. Their boxcar was a clubhouse in the backyard.
In the boxcar, their wirehaired terrier, Watch, was waiting.
“Watch!” Benny was excited to tell the dog about the contest. “I’m going to be a sous-chef.” Watch lay down on the floor as Benny explained what that meant. Then Benny whispered to Watch, “You can’t help with baking because dogs can’t bake. But I can sneak you some tasters if you want.”
Watch barked happily.
“We need the right equipment.” Jessie looked through a box of cooking supplies she had stored in a corner. “This isn’t going to be like making snacks while we hang out.” She pulled out some measuring cups and a big mixing bowl.
“The sign-up form is on the back of the flyer,” Henry said as he grabbed a pencil. “You and Benny will have two rounds where you get to choose what to make and one round where the judges give you surprise ingredients, and you make what they say.”
“Two original recipes,” Jessie said. She told Benny, “Your first job as sous-chef is to help me think about what two recipes we are going to make.”
“I like popcorn,” Benny said as Jessie dug a cookbook out of the box. “And carrots with dip.” He smiled and held up two fingers. “That should cover it. Easy-peasy!”
Jessie breathed a heavy sigh. “The recipes have to be desserts, remember? And those kinds of snacks don’t use baking. Baking is special. It’s about using heat, like in an oven, to make foods. We’re going to need good recipes and the perfect ingredients. There’s a lot of science involved to get everything to bake together just right.” She opened her notebook and began to make a list of the dishes and tools she needed to get from Grandfather’s kitchen. With every passing minute, Jessie was growing more and more nervous about the contest. She frowned and muttered, “This is very hard. So many things can go wrong. I could burn the dessert. Add too much salt. Or not enough salt. Or mess up the artistic decorations. Or…”
“You know what’s also important in baking?” Benny asked Jessie.
She looked up at him.
“A no-worrying, smiling face,” he said.
r /> Jessie shook her head. “You’re right!” She relaxed and smiled. “No more stressing. This contest will be fun.”
“I know what the first poster for our team should say.” Violet grabbed her markers.
“What?” Henry asked.
Violet chuckled. “Benny’s ‘sous-chef’ cheer inspired me to write a rhyme.”
“I can’t wait to hear it,” Benny said. “Moo rhymes with sous. You can use that. Or chef rhymes with…” He thought about it. “Nothing very cheery. Clef? Ref? Hmmm.”
“I have another idea.” Violet quickly wrote the words on a big poster board then held up their newest cheer.
Everyone chanted the words together: “Bake it with a grin. That’s how the Aldens win!”
Signing Up
There was a line outside Greenfield Bakery. The main street through town had small shops and restaurants next to each other stretching for a few blocks, and the bakery was in the exact middle. It had been there since Grandfather Alden was a child, and a lot of the cakes and cookies were made with the same recipes from all those years ago.
The flyer said that the winners of this year’s bake-off would get to choose one of their creations to add to the bakery menu.
“Oh dear. Are all these kids signing up for the contest?” Jessie wondered, pushing back a new wave of nerves. She looked at the line that stretched from the bakery past the hardware store next door.
Benny took Jessie’s hand in his and squeezed it. “The more contestants, the more desserts there will be to taste!”
“Always thinking positively,” Henry said, winking at Benny.
“Always thinking with my tummy,” Benny replied with a grin.
“Hi, Jessie.” A girl Jessie knew tapped her on the shoulder. Emma had dark hair braided tightly and pulled back with a purple ribbon. Jessie was used to how softly Emma always spoke. She leaned in to hear her.
“Are you signing up for the competition?” Emma asked.
“Yes. Looks like you are too.” Jessie noticed the form in Emma’s hand.
“My older brother wants to bake. I’m helping,” Emma said with a frown.
“Are you the sous-chef?” Benny asked. “I am!” he announced proudly.
Emma said, “I suppose I’m Connor’s sous-chef if that means I get to fill out the entry paperwork, wash the dishes, and clean up after him.”
“That doesn’t sound very fun to me,” Benny said. “And not very sous-chef-y.”
“It’s what Connor told me to do.” Emma shrugged. “I don’t want to—” She didn’t finish her thought because her brother interrupted.
“Hey, Sis!” Connor pointed to the bakery door. “Hurry up. It’s our turn!”