 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
- By E. L. Konigsburg
- Genre: Adventure
Common Sense Media says
Attention to detail makes adventure satisfying.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
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.
What's the story?
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.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about escape. What is Claudia trying to escape? Have you ever wanted to escape from something? Did you try?
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Kid, 12 years old
July 4, 2009
AGE
Very good!
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.
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AGE
(I am the same person as laffytaffy18 but i forgot my password) Once again I HATED this book!! It doesn't pull me in at all. it sucks! I hate the author too. I like older kid books like The Lovely Bones, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Twilight Saga and The Time Traveler's Wife (best books ever!)
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AGE
one of the best books in the world
i love this book
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AGE
Not really a point in reading this
I had to read this book in school and I HATE IT!! It's kind of crazy to run away from home and then go back! I put this for not good role models becase Jamie (a kid) cheats at cards. The book is not intresting and is made for the age group 8-12. (I think) Maybe I would have thought that it was good if I wasn't reading the Twilight Series. But I like books meant for 9-12 graders. (Examples:The Lovely Bones, The Time Traveler's Wife, Twilight Saga ect.)
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AGE
Enjoyable...
If anything, this is one of the most enjoyable books I've read.
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AGE
Don't Run Away From Home
If you have a problem, TALK IT OUT! Anyways, I love this book! I don't see why this book was rated 9 and up. Seriously...
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AGE
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!
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AGE
Depends on your Favorites
Reading the other reviews, several people don't enjoy it, but it can be a great book. It's about two children who run away from home, and it's a GREAT mystery at the end that will leave you going, "Ohh...." it's a fun and adventurous book
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AGE
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.
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AGE
I love it! It is a very good book, even though the first time i tried to read it it was a little boring. Now i read it all the time!
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| Author: | E. L. Konigsburg |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Publisher: | Yearling Books |
| Publication date: | November 7, 1977 |
| Number of pages: | 176 |
| Paperback price: | $4.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
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