I really liked this, but I think this is better for kids eight and up as the main characters run away. You could have younger kids read it, but they would a) probably need it read to them and b) you would need to talk to them about how the kids in the story run away. This is educational because the kids are living in a museum, so they learn some things (the angle might not be real though). The kids are also very creative: their choice in running away, their bathing station, their money station and more! I think it is a book for girls and boys because the main characters are both a girl and a boy.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Attention to detail makes adventure satisfying.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 9 and Up
What to watch out for
-
Violence:
-
Sex:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler was written by Cindy Kane
Parents need to know that the premise of living inside a museum is enthralling, and E. L. Konigsburg provides every detail a kid could want. Two runaway children demonstrate ingenuity in taking care of themselves in this superbly written novel. Huge dollops of art history seem entertaining when the characters experience it firsthand. The author's scratchy drawings, never terribly attractive, look dated and muddy.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about escape. What is Claudia trying to escape? Have you ever wanted to escape from something? Did you try?
Have you read it? Review It!
More on From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Book Summary
Claudia Kinkaid feels unappreciated by her parents and bored with her orderly, straight-A existence. She is nearly twelve when she decides to run away from her home in suburban Connecticut. Being practical, she chooses a comfortable destination--New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art--and a thrifty traveling companion, her nine-year-old brother Jamie.
After careful planning, Claudia and Jamie arrive at the museum, hiding from the guards in the rest rooms, sleeping on priceless beds, and bathing in the fountain. But when a statue of an angel, rumored to be a possible Michelangelo, is given to the museum, Claudia decides they must solve the mystery. Their search leads them to the statue's original owner, eccentric Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, who narrates the story in a peppery letter to her lawyer. Mrs. Frankweiler both solves the mystery and helps Claudia understand why the secret of the statue is so important to her.[
Is It Any Good?
Though it may read like a fantasy today, this perfect, kid-size adventure is pure delight. Author E.L. Konigsburg's attention to detail makes this adventure real and satisfying, and her craft makes the story timeless. She observes the characters as closely as their surroundings. Claudia's need to show off and Jamie's tendency to cheat at cards are as much an endearing part of them as their loyalty, humor, and ingenuity.
The quest for the sculptor's identity is bound inextricably with Claudia's own search for self. The mystery is complicated, but the irascible voice of Mrs. Frankweiler allows the author to clarify without ever seeming to lecture. An unusual choice for a children's-book narrator, 82-year-old Mrs. Frankweiler makes a precise and witty storyteller. She even saves one delicious secret for the very end.
Publisher’s Details
Publisher: Yearling Books, Publication date: 11/07/1977
Number of pages: 176, Price: $4.99 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 6-8, Read Alone: 9+
Number of pages: 176, Price: $4.99 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 6-8, Read Alone: 9+
Our Members Say
See all 9 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Educational
Very good!
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
I think that this book was pretty good. More for kids about 7-11. I also think that you should read more books by E. L. Konigsburg!
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
All right...
No bad content in this book- at least not violence, sex, or language. However, it does seem to show that it's all right to run away for no reason. The book is interesting the first couple chapters, then becomes quite hard to continue, out of pure boredom. Not really entertaining for any age. Too slow for the young, not enough plot for the old.
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Great!
I loved this book! It was wonderfully exciting and interesting. Great for anyone, though prbably best for people a bit younger than 13, more in the 9-12 range, but it's still great.
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
It was a good book!
It is a good book to do a school report on for 5th or 6th graders.
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Have you read it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
uner@dasilva.u ... recommends:
Once Upon a Time in the North
for kids age 9
See more from uner@dasilva ...
Once Upon a Time in the North
for kids age 9
See more from uner@dasilva ...
