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strawberry_lemonadee's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A nice little book. A few parts haven't aged great, but it's overall a funny, adventurous story for kids. I did notice myself getting bored by the repetition a few times, but it was very immersive and calm.
booksong's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Classic runaway story that doesn't age brilliantly but is still of interest.
I'm pretty sure I read this many years ago, but on starting it with my own 9-year-old, didn't recall it at all. In many respects it has aged quite significantly, and for a British reader, the references to places, terms and dated language do make this less a perennial classic than others.
Two siblings decide to run away from home, instigated by Claudia who is not satisfied with her life. Younger brother Jamie is recruited for his frugal nature and ability to conserve money. The pair hide in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
This in itself always fascinated me, the idea of running away, but where do children run to...? Putting them in this safe context allows the story to take an unexpected turn. The pair become almost domesticated, explore the museum, and still have to work out how to stay hidden.
Then there is the 'mystery' that captures their imaginations. For myself and my son, it was simply part of the plot though I understand it might mean more, the art world enigma of the Angel statue based on real events. I enjoyed seeing the everyday lives of the brother and sister as they washed clothes, fed themselves and moved around the museum, bickering about grammar, learning about history. As a parent, I did also think about their own mum and dad and how they'd be worried, but my son clearly just enjoyed the 'running away' fun of their adventure.
It's quite a novel and grown-up technique the author uses, giving us the voice not of Jamie or Claudia but of a woman who we know will feature in the story, is featured in the title of the book, and is referenced throughout before we finally meet her. It made it quite awkward to read aloud, trying to show my son the distinction between the story of the siblings as told by Mrs Frankweiler, and then Mrs Frankweiler speaking directly.
At more than 50 years old, the language has dated more than others of its age, the characters may have lost some of their relatability through time, but the central idea of running away will always hold fascination. Especially when the children run away to such an interesting place and find themselves in the middle of a rather middle-class adventure.
Well worth a look, though many contemporary readers may find it a tougher read than their usual fare.
For ages 9-13.
I'm pretty sure I read this many years ago, but on starting it with my own 9-year-old, didn't recall it at all. In many respects it has aged quite significantly, and for a British reader, the references to places, terms and dated language do make this less a perennial classic than others.
Two siblings decide to run away from home, instigated by Claudia who is not satisfied with her life. Younger brother Jamie is recruited for his frugal nature and ability to conserve money. The pair hide in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
This in itself always fascinated me, the idea of running away, but where do children run to...? Putting them in this safe context allows the story to take an unexpected turn. The pair become almost domesticated, explore the museum, and still have to work out how to stay hidden.
Then there is the 'mystery' that captures their imaginations. For myself and my son, it was simply part of the plot though I understand it might mean more, the art world enigma of the Angel statue based on real events. I enjoyed seeing the everyday lives of the brother and sister as they washed clothes, fed themselves and moved around the museum, bickering about grammar, learning about history. As a parent, I did also think about their own mum and dad and how they'd be worried, but my son clearly just enjoyed the 'running away' fun of their adventure.
It's quite a novel and grown-up technique the author uses, giving us the voice not of Jamie or Claudia but of a woman who we know will feature in the story, is featured in the title of the book, and is referenced throughout before we finally meet her. It made it quite awkward to read aloud, trying to show my son the distinction between the story of the siblings as told by Mrs Frankweiler, and then Mrs Frankweiler speaking directly.
At more than 50 years old, the language has dated more than others of its age, the characters may have lost some of their relatability through time, but the central idea of running away will always hold fascination. Especially when the children run away to such an interesting place and find themselves in the middle of a rather middle-class adventure.
Well worth a look, though many contemporary readers may find it a tougher read than their usual fare.
For ages 9-13.
alyssavandergriff's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
gluntv's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
goodem9199's review against another edition
4.0
Had to re-read for a children's course I'm taking...still holds up after all these years! Konigsburg really knows her way around character development
thecurseofchris's review
4.0
I saw this book on a "featured" table at B&N, and after reading the back, decided that it was worth getting from the library. And I'm glad I did, because I really enjoyed it! This is definitely one of those books that I would've loved as a kid, so I'm a bit bummed it took me this long to discover it, but I see why it remains a classic!