From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

Book Genre: Fiction

Publishing Info: Dell Publishing Company. 159 pages.

Awards or honors received: Newberry Award Winner

Summary: Tired of her routine middle class life and feeling unappreciated as the oldest of four children and the only girl, Claudia Kincaid decides to run away from home. Prefering comfort to nature, she chooses to hide in the Metroplitan Museum of Art and takes one of her younger brothers, Jaime, with her. While hiding in the muesum, the children must stay out of sight of museum guards, learn to take care of themselves, and even investigate whether a mysterious statute had been carved by Michaelangelo. Ultimately the statue leads them to Mrs. Frankweiler (who narrates the story as a letter to her lawyer Saxonberg.). Claudia's quest to learn the truth about the statue provides for her a sense of purpose that she had lacked and leads to Mrs. Frankweiler learning the truth about Claudia and Jaime (that they are Saxonberg's grandchildren).

Personal rating and reason for rating: Good. Interesting, creative story. Characters are realistic and children can relate to the feelings of being overlooked, unappreciated, and the longing for adventure.

Reading level: AR reading level 4.7. Fry reading level grade 7.

Interest level: 3-6

Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study:

Students could explore the ideas of familial loyalty, longing for adventure. Students could write about these topics as well as write newspaper articles describing the children's disappearance and/or the mystery of the angel statue. Students could do creative writing describing their own fantasic plan of running away "to" somewhere or could do persuasive writing focused on lobbying a parent for an increased allowance.

In other subject areas, students could take a virtual tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art or could study about the work of Michaelangelo or could do a more in depth study of the Renaissance.

Potential Problems or Difficulties: Vocabulary may be difficult for younger students.