This week I read From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsberg and it is a fabulous read for the middle school aged child. The story goes that a young 11 year old girl who is a great planner and manages to talk her younger brother Jamie, her very rich brother Jamie, into running away from home with her to go live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art so that thing around home will change.
While at the museum they learn the tricks of avoiding the security officers between the hours that they come and go and kick everyone out of the museum. The biggest piece of the whole book though revolves around a statue that looks like an Angel. Many believe that the statue was crafted by Michelangelo and that the museum got the statue for a fantastic deal. Claudia spends the majority of her time trying to figure out whether or not Michelangelo crafted the statue and she becomes consumed in thought with what is going on with the statue.
Overall the book would be fantastic for the middle school student because it teaches some of the most common grammar mistakes through interesting conversations. Jamie, who is nine, makes many common grammar mistakes and Claudia take the time every time he screws up to fix his grammar.
An absolutely fantastic book and and a must read for children.
As a child, I've always wanted to stay in the mall after it closed. I figured I could play with the toys and cause mischief. This book sounds like a very similar experience. For middle school kids, this would play upon that childhood fantasy. I think they would enjoy this book as much as you did.
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