Determined to solve the mystery of the angel's provenance, Claudia and Jamie track down the seller, Mrs. The adventure ramps up when they learn about the museum's recent acquisition of a marble angel statue-possibly created by Michelangelo-purchased for just $225. The story is about two siblings, Claudia (12) and Jamie Kinkaid (9) who escape their humdrum suburb for 'the greatest adventure of our lives.' With Jamie's pockets stuffed with coins, they take the train into New York City and spend over a week hiding out at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, blending in with crowds during the day and outwitting security guards at night. Konigsburg and published in 1967, it has been beloved by generations of children (and adults) and has never been out of print. Frankweiler came out on top in the 2023 edition of NYPL's #LiteraryMarchMadness. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.We weren't surprised that the children's classic The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information. MARTIN: And you're listening to WEEKEND EDITION, from NPR News.Ĭopyright © 2013 NPR. So the question is, how do you reconcile these opposing longings?' and they want to be different from everyone else. When a biographer asked her why, she explained, quote, 'Because it is at that age that the serious question of childhood is asking for an answer. Her main characters, like Claudia Kincaid, tend to be 12-year-olds. 'Mixed Up Files' may be her most well-known book, but Konigsburg was the author of more than 20 others for kids. It is the perfect childhood experience within an adult world.

They make a little money pulling spare change out of the water. MARTIN: Claudia and her 9-year-old brother, Jamie, essentially move into the museum. It introduced us to Claudia Kincaid, the spunky kid who, bored with the Connecticut suburbs, runs away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Frankweiler' won the prestigious Newbury Award. Her book 'From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. And the author who's best known for creating perhaps the most famous 12-year-old runaway in children's literature was E.L. Even the happiest, most well-adjusted kid dreams of running away from home.

El konigsburg from the mixed up files