From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

My oldest daughter and I read this book for our mother-daughter book club at our local library.  I remember reading it in junior high, but couldn’t remember the story.  I asked my husband if he had read it, and he said, “We only read classics in school.”

“This is a classic!” I told him.

From the Mixed-Up Files by E.L. Konigsburg really captures the imagination of adults and children alike.  Claudia and Jamie are siblings who run away from home.  Claudia wants an adventure, but a comfortable adventure, so she decides to run away to the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.

That, in and of itself, makes for an interesting story.  The fact that she invites her “rich” brother, Jamie, to join her adds a wonderful element.  But the best part of the book, in my opinion, is that the book is narrated by Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, writing the account to her lawyer.

Her asides to the lawyer are priceless and make the book a fun read for adults.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is a perfect book for reading aloud or for enjoying on a long car trip.  We borrowed the digital book from the library for our road trip this weekend, and my seven-year-old loved listening to this book.

Recommended for ages 8 and up.