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

(Paperback)

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Description

New York City girl Claudia, a mere month shy of being a twelve-year-old, has resolved to run away from home with her younger brother, Jamie. She knows that she could never pull off the classic spur-of-the-moment departure without a destination (inevitably involving having to eat outside with the insects, and cupcakes melting in the sun); so she plans everything to perfection, including their destination: the grand, elegant, beautiful, all-encompassing Metropolitan Museum of Art.

However, no sooner have Claudia and Jamie settled into their new home, than they are caught up in the mystery of an angel statue bought by the museum for the bargain price of $225. Is it in fact an as yet undiscovered work by Michelangelo, worth millions Claudia is determined to find out, and her quest leads her to the remarkable, secretive Mrs. Frankweiler, who sold the statue to the museum - and to some equally remarkable discoveries about herself.

Since its first appearance nearly 50 years ago, The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler has gained a place in the hearts of generations of readers - and has rightly become one of the most celebrated and beloved children's books of all time.

Reviews

Mischievous and metropolitan... A wild rumpus... Japes abound New Yorker One of the finest storytellers of her era and genre... [From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler] is a story of discovery and self-discovery Washington Post E. L. Konigsburg is one of our brainiest writers for young people, not only in the considerable cerebral powers she brings to her books but in the intellectual demands she makes on her characters The New York Times In the US... [Konigsburg] is pretty much required reading for anyone under the age of 11 and, indeed, over, too, and I strongly urge everyone who falls into either age group to discover her forthwith... From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler... dominated my imagination in the way only a really good book can wholly inhabit the head of a child... Re-reading From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler,... it was, if anything, even more wonderful than I remembered -- Hadley Freeman Guardian It sticks in the mind like a personal memory, like a secret childhood experience. A perfect, miniature adventure -- Wes Anderson, writer and director of 'Fantastic Mr. Fox', 'The Royal Tenenbaums' and 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' An author beloved by readers young and old LA Review of Books An absolute classic in America... but it's mostly ignored here in the UK, and it shouldn't be!... Brilliant Guardian, Daniel Hahn Delightful... I love this book... a beautifully written adventure, with endearing characters and full of dry wit, imagination and inspirational confidence -- Sally Morris Daily Mail A small miracle... the ultimate escape fantasy... the archangel of children's fiction -- Alex O'Connell The Times Has enduring appeal... likely to charm a new generation -- Nicolette Jones Sunday Times Everything a classic children's book should be: it's exciting, funny, has terrific central characters, a mystery to solve, and a truth - particular to childhood - to be revealed -- Andrea Reece Lovereading4kids, Book of the Month A sweet little tale of discovering secrets and growing up An Awful Lot of Reading fun and witty The Reading Fangirl It has an all-encompassing air of mystery It Was Lovely Reading You An outstanding and thoughtful book with an intriguing mystery at its heart Books for Keeps This US classic about two runaways inspired writers such asHadley Freeman, Wes Anderson and Judy Blume. Astonishingly, it's been out ofprint in the UK for the last 50 years but it's back with a brand new cover, andit's still just as enthralling Mumsnet's Summer Book Club I really loved the setting because I think museums are wonderful and the idea of living in one and exploring it would be my idea of heaven! Guardian Children's Books A small miracle... the ultimate escape fantasy which conveys the thrill and fear of being a minor loose in the big city. Times Summer Book Club The nitty-gritty of the runaways' penny-pinching is terrifically drawn, as is the mystery's denouement The Observer Absurdly funny, exciting, highly original and wonderfully rich in its detail... up there with the best in the canon of great 20th century children's literature. Lancashire Evening Post

Author Bio

The writer and illustrator E. L. Konigsburg (1930-2013) is one of the most celebrated writers of books for children and young adults. She won the prestigious Newbery Medal twice (nearly thirty years apart!), and is the only author to have won the Newbery Medal and Newbery Honor in the same year.