Review: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

5 stars for From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg.

The title is a mouthful. But because of the long title, the book is well taken note of. Add to that that this is the first book that makes it to the banned books list in my last reviewed book, Ban this Book, my interest is piqued and I promptly move it up from my Reading List to placate my reading whims.

The story centers around two children, 12-year old Claudia and her 9-year old brother, Jamie. They run away from home to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. While Claudia strives to keep things in order in their new home, she also works towards becoming a changed person and a heroine to herself.

In the story of Ban this Book, From the Mixed-Up Files is challenged by a parent and taken off the shelf of the school library. In fact, this book has indeed been challenged or banned in an American library at least once in the last thirty years. I can totally understand why. Because this novel is basically about runaway children. Though not all children will run away from home - immediately or thereafter - after reading this book, I do not deny that it may well plant the idea in impressionable young children. We can never know for sure what may transpire in the minds of children who read this book. And that is surely not a good thing. But then, I tend to think that banning the book from the shelf of a library takes it a step too far. Hmm..

Runaway children aside, this story is actually very interesting. It tells of two children and their meticulous planning, attention to details, careful decision making and good money management. It is fascinating to see how they manage to pull it off and not get caught for hiding and living in an Art Museum. But of course, this is a story and to have the story as a book, the children must not be caught. But still, the two children complement each other perfectly for their quest; what the sister lacks, the brother provides. The sister is cautious (about everything but money) and poor while the brother is adventurous (about everything but money) and rich.

Ultimately, this is a story about finding yourself, about how the greatest adventure in running away from home is not about the running away but in looking within oneself, and the greatest discovery of home away from home is not about finding out the truth on an art work but in finding out what makes you.

From the Mixed-Up Files may be a story about children running away from home and one which some parents disagree with, but it is also a creative and inspiring story about the realistic aspects of living and growing up with invaluable lessons to be learned.


Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition
Publication date: 1 Apr 1998

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When suburban Claudia Kincaid decides to run away, she knows she doesn’t just want to run from somewhere, she wants to run to somewhere — to a place that is comfortable, beautiful, and, preferably, elegant. She chooses the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Knowing her younger brother Jamie has money and thus can help her with a serious cash-flow problem, she invites him along.

Once settled into the museum, Claudia and Jamie find themselves caught up in the mystery of an angel statue that the museum purchased at auction for a bargain price of $225. The statue is possibly an early work of the Renaissance master, Michelangelo, and therefore worth millions. Is it? Or isn’t it?

Claudia is determined to find out. Her quest leads her to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the remarkable old woman who sold the statue, and to some equally remarkable discoveries about herself.

*Blurb from Goodreads*

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