From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (cover image from Amazon.com)Bibliography: Konigsburg, E.L. (2007). From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. New York: Aladdin. ISBN: 978-1416949756
SUMMARY
Claudia convinces her younger brother, Jamie, to run away with her to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. They sneak past security and spend almost a week sleeping and exploring the museum. Intrigued by a new sculpture that might have been carved by Michelangelo, Claudia and Jamie set out to solve the mystery of its creator, even traveling to the home of its previous owner, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, wealthy recluse and narrator of the story.
MY IMPRESSIONS
I really enjoyed this book. I wished I could have read it when I was younger. I'd surely heard about both the print version and the movie, so I'm not sure why I never picked it up. For me, the beginning was difficult to get into--the language feels stilted, overly formal and much too old to be a kid. However, once Claudia and Jamie left the school bus, the action picked up. I also enjoyed the message of a brother-sister team on this adventure and how they learned to cooperate.
The premise of two children hiding out in forbidden place at night--a museum, department store--is old hat now, but forty years ago, it was probably a revolutionary idea for kids. It's still an exciting, compelling concept for an adventure and I understand the lasting appeal of this book. Not only do Claudia and James experience the thrill of living in a normally forbidden place, but they're freed from the limitless rules and schedules of school, homework and youth in general. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler captures the mood perfectly. Claudia and James decide where to sleep, where to eat, where to explore. They were surprisingly smart in how to spend their time, and in escaping both the security guards and the perceived danger of New York City. Two other things struck me about this book. Parents probably cringe that Claudia and James didn't really miss their family at all. They were totally consumed with their freedom and mystery-solving that they barely stopped to consider how their disappearance would affect their parents. (This might warrant a reminder on safety, the dangers of running away and sneaking off to strange cities.) Secondly, this book couldn't be written today without major revisions. First off, kids would need a LOT more money to maneuver through NYC. Next, with the advent of security cameras, motion detectors, camera phones, Amber Alerts for missing children and the internet, Claudia and Jamie would have been discovered in the museum immediately (as soon as they jumped on that bed!)
Still, the writing is clear and compelling, although kids might be confused with Mrs. Frankweiler's narration, since they don't meet her until the very end of the story. Her letters to her lawyer are intriguing though, and readers will want to figure out her story as much as Claudia and Jamie's. The imagery of the Met and the mystery of the Michelangelo sculpture are interesting to think about and discuss, as is the experience of being in NYC (or any big city). Each character changes by the time the story ends, and each of them have made lasting connections through this unusual experience.
Winner 1967 Newbery Medal
Library of Congress Children's Book of the Year
ALA's Notable Children's Book Award
ACTIVITIES
This book would be appropriate for a book discussion for children in grades 4-7. Potential questions would be:
1. How is the world different now (especially in NYC) that it was when the book was written?
2. If you were Claudia and Jamie and decided to go on an adventure, where would you go? What would you do?
3. Pretend Claudia and Jamie hid out in this library. What are some adventures or mysteries they could discover here?
4. If you could go back in time, where would you go? Who would you meet? Who would you bring with you?
5. How do you think Claudia and Jamie's parents reacted when they got home? How do you think they felt when they were at the museum?
6. Do you think Claudia and Jamie will see Mrs. Frankweiler again? What do you think they'll do with the sketch once they own it?
7. From what we know about Mrs. Frankweiler, how do you think she changed by the end of the story? What about Claudia and James?
Present non-fiction books about different art periods and styles--especially Michelangelo. Discuss differences in style, color, form, content and interpretation of different pieces of art. Art projects--painting, sculpture with clay, drawing--could also be combined with the discussion. The same could be done with major buildings substituting for the Metropolitan Museum of Art--Disneyworld, The Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, or local buildings. Architecture books could be highlighted from the collection, or the librarian could share interesting trivia with the kids.
Combine the book discussion with a field trip to a local art museum or gallery.
Convert scenes from this book into skits or as a play--if the library could dedicate that much time to practice and performances. Present it to library patrons or at a local school.
REVIEWS
"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."
Cindy Kane from www.commonsensemedia.org
"When Claudia, eleven, decides to run away from the monotony and injustices of her life, she first selects a comfortable destination, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and then chooses as a companion her nine-year-old brother, Jamie, who can be counted on to keep quiet and, more important, is 'rich.' Through Claudia’s careful planning and Jamie’s miserly management of their finances, together with the quick thinking and ingenuity of both children, the runaways take up residence in the museum, live there undetected for a week, and, before their adventure ends, ferret out evidence to authenticate a museum statue. Narrated by the statue’s donor, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the captivating story is fresh and crisply written with uncommonly real and likable characters and genuine dialogue and humor."
From Booklistonline.com
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