From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, written by E. L. Konigsburg, is a museum-based mystery featuring two delightfully gifted siblings and an eccentric old woman. I love, love, love this one.
Fun Facts Konigsburg published two books in 1968. Mixed-Up Files won the Newbery Medal while Konigsburg’s other book (Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William Mckinley, And Me, Elizabeth ) was a runner-up! She’s the only author (so far) to have managed that feat. Plus, her 1997 book, A View From Saturday, won the award 29 years later!
Summary
The story follows 12-year-old Claudia Kincaid, who decides to run away from home. She enlists one of her younger brothers, Jamie (9-years-old), because he has saved up money through illicit card playing. They end up living, secretly, in New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka, “The Met”), bathing in the fountain and sleeping in an antique bed on display. Claudia grows fascinated with a mysterious statue of an angel, desperate to know if it was actually sculpted by Michelangelo. This leads them to the titular Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, who narrates the story, and knows the secret of the sculpture.
Big Idea: A Quote
I always like to wrap a novel study in a big, abstract idea. This might be a universal theme or simply a statement. In the case of Mixed-Up Files, I might base the whole novel study around this quote from the author
“The kids I write about are asking for the same things I wanted. They want two contradictory things. They want to be the same as everyone else, and they want to be different from everyone else.” Scholastic interview with E. L. Konigsburg
This is a fascinating paradox, and one your students are certain to identify with. People want to be different, but we also really want to fit in.
I’d introduce this quote up front and then, perhaps after each chapter, we’d look for evidence of this paradox. When does Claudia want to fit in? When does she want to be unique? We’d do the same with Jamie.
As we move through the story, we’d decide which character is most strongly showing the paradox.
And, what makes big, abstract ideas so wonderful, is that this same quote can apply to our other novel studies (how does Turtle from The Westing Game demonstrate this same paradox?), historic figures (did Abraham Lincoln struggle to be unique while also fitting in?), and reflections about ourselves.
A Universal Theme
I also love the interplay between Claudia and Jamie. I had to stop underlining all of their great dialogue because, well, I was underlining everything!
As I was re-reading this novel, I thought that the Universal Theme of Order vs Chaos would also be a fantastic way to frame this book. I’d have my students collect examples of order and chaos. At first, Claudia is rather obviously a representation of order while Jamie is chaos incarnate. And yet… those two aren’t quite so simple.
In the end, we can ask, What about Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler? Is she a representation or order? Chaos? A perfect mix?
Extensions
- The Met and its various exhibits. As of this writing, there are exhibits ranging from Faberge eggs to Japanese sword fittings to baseball cards.
- Michelangelo – Expose students to key works like The Sistine Chapel ceiling and Pietà and did you know he was involved in the plans for St. Peter’s Basilica!
- The card game War.