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

In this book, a sister and brother escape the horrors of suburban Connecticut and take refuge in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they discover an art mystery that leads them to a wealthy surrogate grandmother. Beyond the iconic setting, this story has an irresistible only-in-New York feeling to it, so that you can’t help believing it all might have really happened, or still could happen.

I read this book years ago and absolutely loved it! The story of Claudia, who decides to run away and live at The Metropolitan Museum of Art with her brother Jamie. Is filled to the brim with art appreciation, and the power that wonderful art can have to transform our lives.

Who wouldn’t want to spend a night alone in a natural history museum? Or maybe a week? Or a month? Claudia and Jamie Kincaid purposely choose the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City as their new home when they run away from their parents. Using their intelligence, guile, and a fair amount of luck, they manage to live successfully among the museum’s priceless artifacts and fascinating exhibits — all the while eluding museum security. The brother and sister become obsessed with a mysterious statue presumably carved by Michelangelo, leading them to the doorstep of the reclusive heiress who… show more.

Injustice is the battle cry of Claudia Kincaid. She is exhausted growing up in her own family, so she takes matters into her own hands and runs away. What an adventure she and her little brother have! They repurpose the fanciest and most glamorous museum in the city of New York to build a better life for themselves. This book satisfies so many itches! There is the pain of not feeling appreciated by those who brought you into this world, the anguish of being away from your family, and the thrill of taking your own life into your own hands.… show more.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler expanded my sense of possibility. In the book, sister and brother Claudia and Jamie Kincaid run away to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While there, they discover a beautiful statue that may or may not be the work of Michelangelo. Claudia and Jamie use creativity and imagination to devise ways to survive in the museum, avoid detection, find and solve clues to determine the artist’s identity, and connect with the one woman who might be able to help them. As you might guess from my own writing, I’m a… show more.

This book has one of the greatest settings in all of middle-grade fiction as far as I’m concerned: the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Brother and sister Claudia and Jamie Kincaid run away and hide in the museum where they discover a sculpture of a marble angel that may have been the work of Michelangelo. The sculpture has been donated by the eccentric Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The duo sets out to learn if the statue is truly a Michelangelo and, if so, why Mrs. Frankweiler gave it to the museum for free. I confess that part… show more.