From The Mixed-Up Files Of Mrs Basil E.

by E.L. Konigsburg

Claudia knew that she could never pull off the old-fashioned kind of running away...Therefore she decided that her leaving home would not just be running from somewhere but would be running to somewhere. To a large place, a comfortable place, an indoor place, and preferably a beautiful place. And that's why she decided upon the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Claudia plans everything very carefully. But neither she nor her younger brother and chosen companion Jamie could possibly expect to find themselves involved in an intriguing art mystery. But that's just what happens!

• ISBN10: 0744583276
• ISBN13: 9780744583274
• Publish Date: 1 August 2003
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 17 March 2010
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Walker Books Ltd
• Edition: New edition
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 176
• Language: English

Reviews

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

I remember reading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler in fifth grade. I was enamored with the concept of E.L. Konigsburg's book. I think it was the idea of slipping away, rebelling with a theme that was similar to the first book in the Boxcar Children series ie children running away from an apparently cruel situation.  I was drawn to the theme of "the grass is always greener".

However, as an adult, the story was told too simplistically to hold up throughout the years. I think as the book was written in the 60s From the Mixed-Up Files comes across as a little outdated. It was subtle, and it pains me to say it, but the use of a phonebook shows a story's age.

Lastly, with the plot of a prolonged stay in a museum, it reminded me of A Night at the Museum and I am not a fan of Ben Stiller.

Overall, I think the problem with From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler was not the plot, inventive characters or E.L. Konigsburg's writing style it came down to the fact that it remains a young adult book. It is best related to Wendy Darling being unable to travel to Neverland. She is all grown-up and too old to journey with Peter Pan again.

This review was originally posted on First Impressions Reviews

[ibeforem]

I won’t be really reviewing these books I read for the Daring Book Challenge, because I feel funny reviewing books that are older than I am (this was published in 1967). But I will share what I thought. I thought this was a cute story, and I don’t know how I missed this one when I was young… it seems like it would have been just my style! And, except for a few details (such as how much things cost and the fact that Claudia wears a petticoat), it doesn’t feel like it’s outdated. I thought a couple of parts were particularly funny, like when Claudia and Jamie find an unopened candy bar on the ground, and Jamie wants to eat it. Claudia says “You better not touch it. It’s probably poisoned or filled with marijuana, so you’ll eat it and become either dead or a dope addict.” How funny!