Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Run Away to the Museum

We have blogs for great teen books, and wonderful books and literacy activities for ages birth-to-five. But what about those pesky middle years, when you're too young to drive, but too old to suffer fools (like parents bossing you around) gladly? If you're a tween, or you know one, then I have the classic escapist fantasy to check out: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, written and illustrated by E. L. Konigsburg.

Twelve-year-old Claudia convinces her younger brother Jamie to run away to live with her in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Claudia's planned out everything: how to hide from the guards (by standing on the toilets of the bathroom), how to find money for food (wading for change in the fountain), how to blend in with the crowd to avoid suspicion (joining school tours), and even where to sleep (a beautiful antique bed). But soon, Claudia and Jamie begin to find clues to a mystery that only people who spend altogether too much time at the Met would even notice. Think of it as a kinder, gentler Da Vinci Code that's as much a meditation on growing up as it is an adventure.

Since this won the Newbery Medal, we have plenty of copies. It's even available on CD as an audio book -- it won't put you to sleep!

Happy reading,
Jenny
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1 comment:

  1. More booksAugust 31, 2012 at 12:10 PM

    This book is why I became a librarian! Thank you Charlottesville children's librarian who reminded me what a great story this is.

    ReplyDelete

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