“Claudia knew that she could never pull off the old-fashioned kind of running away.”

From E. L. Konigsburg’s From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

Tired of being stuck with both too many chores and not enough respect, Claudia decided to run away shortly before her twelfth birthday. While she saved her pitiful allowance to cover the train ticket, Claudia began planning all the details that would be involved in hiding in New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art long enough for her parents to learn a lesson. Not wanting to go alone, Claudie decides to bring one of her younger brothers, but since she can’t stand the annoying Steve or babyish Kevin, she decides to take her money-smart middle brother, Jamie. Armed with Claudia’s plan and Jamie’s $24, the two run away from the suburbs and into the heart of the city. The plan goes well and the siblings soon find themselves hiding in the bathrooms to stay after the museum closes, sleeping in a antique bed, bathing in a fountain, eating at the snack shop, and exploring the museum. Claudia and Jamie are enjoying their independence, but when they pass by a statue called Angel that might have been carved by Michelangelo, they’re captivated by the statue. As they live with the statue, Claudia and Jamie realize that they might be the only ones that can solve the mystery of the statue’s creator and previous owner–the spirited Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler–as long as they can figure it out without being discovered.

This classic story does well to bridge the gap between the writer’s world and the modern reader. The mystery that develops surrounding the statue pairs well with the impressive independence that the main characters are able to maintain. From the Mixed-Up Files… is a quick read that tells an unforgettable story for readers of all ages.