Vintage Children's Book Review: From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is a children's book that has the rare distinction of influencing and touching modern pop culture (The Simpsons, The Royal Tennenbaums), even though it was originally written in 1968, and made into a T.V. film starring Ingrid Bergman in 1973. You can still locate newly printed editions of this book as recently as 2007 (Deckle Edge Publishing). But more importantly, your grade-school kids will love this tale about a brother and sister who don't run away, but "run to", what they believe will be a new life.

The central characters, Claudia and Jamie Kincaid, embark on an adventure orchestrated by Claudia who feels unappreciated at home. She is the consummate detail person who plans every bit of their escape, from their finances to how they will spend their time meaningfully. Part of the fun in this story is the dynamic between Claudia and Jamie who are a true "Odd Couple". As much of a perfectionist that Claudia is, Jamie is the free bird who never thinks ahead more than two seconds into the future. Since they are hiding out in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, the setting lends itself to many close calls and lots of imaginative moments.

Things become intense for Claudia when she sees a tiny statue of an angel that the museum thinks might be a work of Michelangelo, but has not been able to authenticate. Touched by the little statue, she becomes obsessed with discovering the truth about the angel. This is where Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler comes into the story. Claudia decides that finding out about "angel" will give her journey the meaning she has been seeking. But how do you get your pesky brother and an aging recluse to cooperate?

I have had this book since I was 11 years old, and have re-read it several times. Reading it again as an adult I can say that I still really enjoyed it. I would recommend this as an excellent book to read to your kids, as it could spark discussions about how your family relates to one another, and why different things have meaning to different people. This book would be good for 2nd - 6th graders.