From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler was written by E.L. Konigsburg and is a winner of the Newbery Medal.

Konigsburg, E. L., & Konigsburg, E. L. (1967). From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, ([1st ed.). New York: Atheneum.

Exposition:
The main characters, Claudia and Jamie Kincaid live in Greenwich, Connecticut with their family. The setting then changes to New York City when Jamie and Claudia travel there, and then returns to Connecticut.

Conflict:Claudia feels unappreciated by her family and decides to runs away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, inviting her younger brother Jamie to go with her.

Rising Action:

Claudia and Jamie take off for New York City and live at the museum exploring and become fascinated by angel statue. They decide to go to see Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, who sold the statue to the museum.

Climax:
The kids travel to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler’s house and go on a search in her home to find the answer to the statue mystery.

Falling Action:
Claudia and Jamie decide to keep their discovery secret and Mrs. Frankweiler sends them home to their parents.

Resolution:

The kids return home to their worried family with a different perspective then before running away.

Literary Qualities:

I haven’t read this book since I was in elementary school, and had a great time following Claudia and Jamie’s journey again!  This is a great story to introduce different types of point-of-view to students as Mrs. Frankweiler leads you through the adventures of the children. There was also a great deal of foreshadowing that Mrs. Frankweiler’s files would hold the answer to the mystery.