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Summary: Claudia and Jamie live their own lives and are resourceful
Review: When I first started reading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, I had no idea who was telling the story. I kept reading because it sounded exciting. The story is about Claudia Kincaid, who is almost 12, and her younger brother Jamie Kincaid, who is nine. The two run off from their home in Greenwich, Connecticut, to New York City, where they live in the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art.
Every day, Claudia and Jamie go around the museum to find a class that is taking a tour there, and take the tour with them. Twice in their long adventure, Claudia and Jamie take a bath in the Metropolitan's fountain, where they find money that people had thrown in. The museum is very crowded because many people are coming to see a new statue of an angel the museum bought at an auction for only $225. But experts think the statue might be done by Michelangelo Buonarroti, the famous painter and sculptor of the Italian Renaissance. The statue originally came from the collection of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, who turns out to be the person telling the story.
The kids want to find out who really sculpted the statue, and eventually, they decide to go to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler's house. She gives them an hour to look through her mixed-up files and find the document which proves who did the sculpture. In a very funny way, the children figure out where the document is. They find, in glass, a sketch of Angel by Michelangelo. They agree to keep the proof a secret.
Mrs. Frankweiler explains that Claudia will be different when she gets home because she knows something that almost nobody else knows.
The thing that I liked about the book was that Claudia and Jamie live their own lives and are very resourceful. Reviewed by Eli Schulman, age 10
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Summary: An excellent and memorable book
Review: My fourth grade teacher read this to my class years ago. Now I'm all grown up (sort of *smile*) and work in Manhattan, and I never pass the Met without thinking of Claudia and Jamie
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Summary: Great for young and old!
Review: This book mixed humor, suspense, misery and mystery to form a truly captivating book. After reading this, I bought the book on tape. My family listened to it about 5 times in the car on the way to Boston and back home. It's the kind of book you never get sick of
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Summary: A brilliant winner of the Newbery Award!
Review: Fun and intelligence are mixed together in this award-winning book for young readers. BUT, SURPRISE-----adults will enjoy it too! From bossy, know-it-all Claudia and her gambling, cheapskate brother James to the cynical, eccentric Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the characters are appealing and real. They have their adorable little quirks and are genuinely likable. At the same time, the idea of living in a famous art museum---sleeping in its bed, hiding luggage and out-smarting guards, is fascinating. It provides James and Claudia the opportunity to return home "different"---learn about themselves and about culture. OK, that sounds boring, but it isn't ! Learning about art is just the apparent goal; uncovering the SECRET that everyone wants to know is the real one. Guess who James and Claudia must turn to? The writing is FAST, FUNNY AND ORIGINAL . I strongly recommend it
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Summary: A captivating children's book that kids can't put down!
Review: I read this book when I was about 10 years old--and I still remember it today (20+ years later!). It's a very well written adventure story that draws kids in and doesn't let go until the end. On my first trip to the Metropolitan Museum, several years ago, I remembered the story of Claudia and her brother living in the museum when they ran away from home and how they researched the mystery of the Angel statue. It's one of the few books that I read as a child (and I read TONS!) that I can clearly recall the excitement of reading and the details of the story. Thanks, E.L. Konigsburg, and congratulations on your recent award
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Summary: I loved this book!
Review: I read this as a child and reread it recently for fun. And boy was it fun!
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Summary: A timeless entertaining adventure
Review: I read this book almost 30 years ago and loved it, I've bought copies for my friend's children and it's always a hit. Great book for kids who can identify with Claudia, who are intelligent, love art, feel a little misunderstood and crave adventure. Big kids like this book as well!
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Summary: A Great, Fun, Cool Mystery Book
Review: As a kid, I loved "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler." I could always imagine hiding out in a museum, fishing coins out of fountains (who else is using them, you know?), and I would have loved to have been able to sleep in all those wonderful beds they have! This is a wonderful book for any kid old enough to read and understand it, and it's especially delightful to the rare child who loves puns (bologna vs. baloney).
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Summary: How to survive in NY on a limited budget & get smarter too
Review: Claudia Kincaid is almost twelve, a straight "A" student, only girl and eldest child of four, who decides to run away to somewhere beautiful, comfortable, and preferably indoors.
Claudia is in fact rebelling against the monotony of her life, unfair distribution of labor, limited television choices and low allowance.
Ever the organizer, she carefully formulates a master plan to escape to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and enlists her middle brother Jamie to join her. Of course, there are very practical reasons that Jamie was the chosen one, and after Claudia tears down his defenses, he becomes a willing accomplice.
The story tells of their grand adventure, and how they were able to survive undetected inside the Met for a whole week. While there, they take the opportunity to learn new things, and become captivated by the newest exhibit, a marble angel that may just be a genuine Michelangelo sculpture.
There and then, Claudia resolves to solve the mystery before returning home, but unfortunately, finances are running low and time is running out for the fugitives.
Through dogged determination, they use the last of their resources to locate the former owner of the angel, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the lady of the title and narrator of the story. After winning the good lady's favorable consideration, they negotiate a deal with her, the outcome of which decides the success or failure of their adventure.
A charming story, with a little educational material sneakily tucked between the paragraphs. A good book for children with enquiring minds, and a useful tool when planning your next family or school trip to the Met.
Amanda Richards, January 13, 2005
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Summary: A great book to read anytime and anywhere
Review: THis is Konigsburg's Newbery Medal story of self-discovery as two siblings, Claudia and Jamie, run away from home and find themselves caught up in an art museum mystery. As they investigate the origins of the amazing statue believed to have been the work of Michelangelo, they discover the truth. A wealthy antiques collector, Mrs. Frankweiler, once owned the statue and will tell them its secrets if they will let her bring them back home.
Claudia planned the whole escape from home. SHe felt unhappy with the way her parents ignored her, and she wanted to find some purpose in her life. THrough Konigsburg's characterization of Claudia, we find that she is cautious and thorough, but ambitious and brilliant. Children can identify with Claudia in her struggles to find her place in the family. THey can imagine themselves running away, and the adventures they could discover. Ultimately, the only happiness in life comes from within, as children will discover from reading this book.
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