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dlberglund 's review for:
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by E.L. Konigsburg
12 year old Claudia, feeling very put out and unappreciated as the eldest in her family, convinces her miserly yet adventurous younger brother to run away with her to New York City. There are some issues with it, for sure. They give no thought to their poor, distraught parents. They flaunt the rules and risk damaging priceless museum pieces. Claudia corrects Jamie's grammar at every turn and is surprisingly terrible at understanding the value of a dollar(or a taxi ride). I think the ending is weird. Perhaps most damningly, the response to this book's publication *50* years ago included a shifting of part of the NYC Parks budget to increased security at the Met! (So we have this book to "thank" for the cameras and security guards everywhere?)
Still....I love this book. I love Claudia's attitude. I love Jamie's attitude. I love that they develop as characters...but not too much. I love that it makes kids think about art and secrets and mysteries.
Still....I love this book. I love Claudia's attitude. I love Jamie's attitude. I love that they develop as characters...but not too much. I love that it makes kids think about art and secrets and mysteries.