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

Konigsburg, E.L. (1967). From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler. New York: Atheneum. 162pp.

Fiction, Newberry, 1967

The story focuses on Claudia, a 12-year-old sixth grader fed up with her parents' lack of appreciation for her. As the oldest child of four, she is expected to escort her younger brothers to and from the bus stop and attend to the loathsome job of emptying the household trash cans--and people don't even try to keep them neat! Determined to give her family a taste of life without her, she plots an escape. She and her fiscally savvy nine-year-old brother, Jamie, run away to New York City and take up residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While there, Claudia takes special interest in the museum's newest acquisition, an angel sculpture rumored to be the work of Michelangelo. We hide out with the youngsters as they attempt to live on pennies, evade capture, and get to the bottom of a five-century-old mystery--all without strangling each other in the process!

The major strength of The Mixed-Up Files is that Konigsburg manages to weave themes about growing-up, self-worth, and family relatively unobtrusively into a highly-entertaining mystery. The two central characters are interesting and compelling. What makes Claudia effective is that she is enticed by the mystery of the sculpture's origin because she doesn't feel special in her own skin and is looking for something to make her "different"; however, she shown throughout the book to be a precocious child--bright, curious, high-achieving--in other words, precisely the kind of child most people would already consider "different." Claudia is a heroine for those who don't seem to need a heroine, and I think Konigsburg does a good job of showing the universality of certain adolescent experiences. Most kids feel overlooked or invisible at some point, not just the underprivileged or under-achieving, the down-and-out.
Another point of interest regarding this book is the structure. Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler recounts the story for the reader in the form of a letter she is writing to her lawyer, Saxonburg. Mrs. B.E.F. turns out to be a pretty pert old lady, and so we have the benefit of some sharp but humorous editorial comments throughout. The nature of these narrative intrusions reminded me at times of the Lemony Snickett, so that might be a selling-point for students who have enjoyed that series.

As much praise as I've given this book, I really would only recommend it to individual readers. It would be good for students with younger siblings or for history buffs, since Claudia and Jaime launch into a mini-research project on the Italian Renaissance. However, I don't think the issues are weighty or complex enough to support extensive small group or class discussion, and I don't think that enough students would relate to Claudia and her adult-like attitudes to make their interaction with her story worthwhile.

The age range is solidly middle school. I can only see it in junior high if recommended to a student with low-level reading skills to get him or her through a book quickly and easily and on to new things.

Though the main thrust of the story centered around Claudia's experience, Jaime was my favorite character. He was a very funny and sophisticated little man, carrying around 25 dollars in change that he won by cheating in card games with his friends. I also appreciated the academic tidbits Konigsburg tossed in now and then, such as the background historical information and the grammar lessons Claudia repeatedly gives Jaime. My major reaction was that the story was fun, fast-paced and easy to read but that a lot of it was very surface-level. I wouldn't say that it has no place in the classroom, but I think it would serve students better as the kind of on-your-own fare that they can simply enjoy and not have to think about.