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

Description

When suburban Claudia Kincaid decides to run away, she knows she doesn t just want to run from somewhere she wants to run to somewhere--to a place that is comfortable, beautiful, and preferably elegant. She chooses the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Knowing that her younger brother, Jamie, has money and thus can help her with the serious cash flow problem she invites him along.

Once settled into the museum, Claudia and Jamie, find themselves caught up in the mystery of an angel statue that the museum purchased at an auction for a bargain price of $250. The statue is possibly an early work of the Renaissance master Michelangelo, and therefore worth millions. Is it? Or isn t it? Claudia is determined to find out. This quest leads Claudia to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the remarkable old woman who sold the statue and to some equally remarkable discoveries about herself.Claudia is bored. She s ready for a big change, but wants to make sure she does it with style. When she decides to run away, Claudia plans to be a runaway with specific goals: to be comfortable, to be changed, and to be appreciated at home. She carefully appoints a partner (her younger brother), and selects a destination (The Metropolitan Museum of Art), but there are some adventures you simply can t plan in advance. Claudia and her brother Jamie are soon embroiled in an artistic mystery even the experts can t solve, but discovering a solution to this puzzle might just help Claudia find the answer to her personal quest.

Konigsburg s unique story, compelling style, and distinctive line drawings make this Newbery Medal-winner a book readers won t want to put down. Especially for children on the cusp of adolescence, Claudia s desire to be someone and her corresponding search for identity will ring true for those searching for their true selves. (Ages 9 to 12)