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

Children’s books can be exhilarating... the joy of the innocence and freedom to dream and escape to wherever you want to go. So goes today’s read, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Franweiler by E.L. Konigsburg.  The story is of strong-willed, 11 year-old Claudia Kincaid who decides to run away from home and commandeers her younger brother, the kid with money, to join her.  They escape from sleepy Greenwich, CT, and set a path to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. The story is set in 1967, so the amount of money they need is certainly different than today, as is the security measures that are in place at the Met.  Claudia and Jamie stay in the Met for a week, living on cheap foods in the streets of NYC and hanging out in the Met unbeknownst to the security officers in the building.  The journey turns when a new piece of art is delivered to the museum, an alleged statue of Michelangelo.  When Claudia finds out where the piece came from, her new purpose becomes finding out whether it is a true Michelangelo sculpture or not.  The final part of the journey is finding Mrs. Franweiler, the millionaire who sold the statue for $225, who may hold the key to the actual truth of its authenticity.  Claudia and Jamie spend the last of their journey’s money to find Mrs. F.  It is through this interaction that the whole story is actually captured.  The mixing of generations always makes for a great story, and this one is no different.  Mrs. Frankweiler captures the secrets of the kids in exchange for the knowledge of the statue.  What a great little tale.  Young kids will get it, as will “us” wiser, older folks.  You can guess the age range that won’t.  Every person needs an adventure.  Fun with heart!