Science Fair Sabotage Read online

  SCIENCE FAIR SABOTAGE

  Jessie wants her science fair project to make a difference. So when she has the chance to test a local stream for pollution, she can’t wait to get started.

  Henry, Violet, and Benny have fun using science to help Jessie with her project. But when someone tries to sabotage their experiment, and the stream starts to change in strange ways, the Boxcar Children have more than a science project to finish. They have a mystery to solve!

  Albert Whitman & Co.

  More than 100 Years of Good Books

  www.albertwhitman.com • www.boxcarchildren.com

  Cover art by Anthony VanArsdale

  Copyright © 2020 by Albert Whitman & Company

  Printed in the United States of America

  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

  T
HE POWER DOWN MYSTERY

  MYSTERY AT CAMP SURVIVAL

  THE MYSTERY OF THE FORGOTTEN FAMILY

  NEW! THE SKELETON KEY MYSTERY

  NEW! SCIENCE FAIR SABOTAGE

  Copyright © 2020 by Albert Whitman & Company

  First published in the United States of America in 2020 by Albert Whitman & Company

  ISBN 978-0-8075-0792-6 (hardcover)

  ISBN 978-0-8075-0798-8 (paperback)

  ISBN 978-0-8075-0799-5 (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 24 23 22 21 20

  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. River Ride

  2. Change of Plans

  3. Stink and Murk

  4. Weirder and Weirder

  5. Two Problems

  6. Rivers and Streams

  7. Snooping and Shooing

  8. Behind the Wall

  9. The Big Day

  10. The Man in the Blue Hat

  CHAPTER

  River Ride

  “My arms are tired.” Six-year-old Benny Alden set his paddle across his legs. “I don’t want to row anymore.”

  “Benny, we need your paddle in the water to keep the canoe straight,” said Henry from the back of the boat. At fourteen, he was the oldest of the four children. “You’re an important part of Team Alden.”

  Still, Benny didn’t put his paddle in the water.

  Jessie spoke up from her seat in the front of the canoe. She was twelve and always seemed to know just what to tell her little brother. “This is the roughest patch of the river, Benny. Remember, there’s a big meal waiting at the end.”

  At the mention of food, Benny pushed his sweat-soaked hair from his forehead. He flexed his muscles and said, “I’ll do it for Team Alden!”

  But before Benny could do a thing, the river’s current pulled the canoe sideways.

  “Watch out!” Ten-year-old Violet called. She had been taking pictures of the scenery with her new digital camera. Now, she picked up her paddle.

  Ahead, a glistening boulder stuck high out of the water. If the children didn’t steer around it, the canoe would flip and dump them all into the river.

  “Smash alert!” Benny shrieked. “Crash position!” He ducked down and put his head between his legs.

  “No need to panic. We just need to paddle together,” Henry said. He called, “Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!” The three oldest Aldens worked double time to turn the boat back on course. Before long, the rock was behind them.

  “Whew,” said Violet, smoothing out her ponytail. “That was close.”

  “I was so scared!” said Benny. Then he added, “I think we all deserve a snack. Is there a cooler hiding somewhere?”

  “Sorry,” Henry said. “This is a short trip, remember? Grandfather is waiting for us.”

  It was a late summer day, and the children were enjoying the last of the warm weather by canoeing down the Greenfield River. At the end of their route, they planned to meet Grandfather for lunch at Greenfield’s Lookout Café.

  Jessie, Violet, Henry, and Benny had not always lived with their grandfather. After their parents died, the children had run away. They’d heard that Grandfather Alden was mean and were afraid to live with him. They had found shelter in an old boxcar in the woods, and, for a short time, made it their home. The children had all kinds of adventures in the boxcar. When Grandfather had found them, they discovered he wasn’t mean at all and came to live with him. The children still had all kinds of adventures.

  “How much longer, Henry?” Benny asked. He added, “Do you have a sandwich in your life jacket pocket?”

  “Life jackets don’t have pockets, silly,” Henry chuckled.

  Violet pulled the straps to tighten the orange vest around her middle. “It’s good we were wearing life jackets,” she said. “We almost tipped over.”

  “It’s important to be prepared,” said Henry. “Sometimes things happen that no one can control.”

  “It’s important to be prepared,” Benny repeated. He thought for a long moment then said, “I think I’ll make a life jacket with a special pocket for a sandwich.” He added, “I’m going to invent a machine that rows the boat for me too.” He went on, “Then, we need an air conditioning umbrella to cool us down. A waterproof boat pillow to rest my sleepy head.” Benny’s eyes got big as he added another idea to the list. “And a special doggy seat for Watch!”

  Watch was the name of the Aldens’ wirehaired terrier. The man who rented the canoe to them had said no dogs were allowed. So Watch was waiting with Grandfather at the end of the route.

  Benny had been upset not to bring Watch along. Now, he was excited about his idea. “I could make a doggy life vest too!” He clapped his hands. “With a pocket for dog treats!”

  “You are full of good ideas,” said Jessie. “Maybe I should use one for my science fair project.”

  All summer, Jessie had been looking forward to joining her school’s Science Fair Club. In the club’s first meeting, she had partnered with Claudia Tobin, who had won the competition the year before. Jessie was excited to have such a smart partner. Now, they just needed to find the perfect project.

  “You’re going to invent a dog life vest, Jessie?” Violet asked, brown eyes wide with surprise.

  “With a treat pocket,” Benny added. “That’s the most important part.”

  Jessie giggled. “I don’t think Claudia would want to make a dog vest.”

  “You’ve only had one meeting,” Henry said. “The perfect idea will come to you.”

  For a few minutes, the children were quiet as they paddled around a bend. Henry convinced Benny to help by promising him two sandwiches at the end of the trip.

  “And ice cream?” Benny asked before putting his oar into the water.

  “I’d never forget dessert,” said Henry.

  Before long, the children came to a calm area where they could float along. Violet took a picture of a mallard duck that Benny spotted. And two turtles Henry pointed out.

  But Jessie was still thinking about her science fair project. “Claudia and I want to do something that will make a difference,” she said. “We have to decide soon so we can get busy doing the research.”

  “You’ll find your project,” said Benny. “I’m a hundred and two percent positive.”

  “I’ve got my fingers crossed one hundred and two times,” Jessie joked.

  “It’s nice we have this river and so much nature this close to Greenfield,” said Violet, peering through her camera lens. “Maybe there’s a river project you could do, Jessie?”

  “I wonder…” Jessie began to think about it.

  Violet aimed her camera toward the shore and squinted through the lens. “Hey, what’s going on over there?”

  “What do you see?” asked Henry.

  “It looks like construction,” Violet said.

  As the boat got closer, the children saw a tall metal fence blocking off the work site from the river. Loud clanging noises came from the other side.

  “That’s strange,” said Jessie. “I didn’t think anyone could build by the river—not after the Big Cleanup.”

  “Big Cleanup?” Benny asked.

  “That’s right,” said Henry. “A while back, there was a big effort to clean up the Greenfield River. At the time, there were no birds. The water smelled weird. Everyone used to joke there was so much pollution in the river that the fish had three eyes.”

 
“Mutant fish!” said Benny. He peeked over the side of the canoe to see if he could find any strange creatures. “I thought falling in the water would be bad. Swimming with mutant fishes would be…” He thought about the right word, then said, “Really bad!”

  “Those are just rumors, Benny.” Jessie pointed to a fishing dock on the side of the river, where a man and his daughter were holding fishing rods. The girl had a fish hanging from a hook. “See? Nothing to worry about.”

  “Don’t eat that!” Benny shouted. “It might have extra eyeballs!”

  “We need to paddle,” said Henry, changing the subject. The end of the river ride was coming up, and the children needed to get to the right side of the riverbank. “All together, Team Alden! Stroke. Stroke. Stroke.”

  Still, as Jessie paddled along, she couldn’t help but look at the water and wonder: Had things really changed for the Greenfield River?

  CHAPTER

  Change of Plans

  “Sandwich time!” Benny said as the canoe pulled onto the sandy shore.

  “We need to return the boat first,” said Henry.

  “Oh bother,” Benny groaned. He looked down the path leading to the Lookout Café. “They’re so close I can smell them.”

  “We’ll be there soon,” said Jessie, hopping out and pulling the canoe onto the sandy shore.

  Once all the children were out, Benny sniffed the air. “The whole menu is attacking my nose. There are sandwiches and cookies and apples.” Benny sneezed. “And chocolate ice cream for dessert!”

  “You have a super-sniffer,” Violet said with a laugh. She snapped a photo of Benny licking his lips.

  The children pulled the canoe all the way onto the shore. At the landing, a red pickup truck with a trailer full of kayaks and canoes was parked.

  Benny sounded out the words on the side of the truck. “‘Cho’s the Best Choice.’” Benny tilted his head. “We got our canoe from Mr. Cho, but the sign at his shack had another name.”

  Jessie nodded. “You’re right, Benny. Mr. Cho’s business is called Lazy River Rentals. ‘Cho’s the Best Choice’ is his motto.”

  “What does that mean?” Benny asked.

  “A motto is a phrase that helps people remember your business,” said Henry. “Mr. Cho wants people to know his shop is the best choice.”

  “But it’s the only choice,” said Violet.

  Henry shrugged. “I guess that makes it the best.”

  “Well,” said Benny, “if I were him, my motto would be Lazy River Rentals: There’s Food at the End.”