I can’t believe I didn’t read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler back when it was published and won the Newbery. I would have been 10 or 11 and I think I would have loved it, and identified with Claudia, the main character.
The audiobook has the illustration from the 1977 edition, but the hardcover 35th anniversary edition I just bought for my library has the illustration posted here, with full-color figures of Claudia and Jamie placed over the black-and-white original drawing by author E. L. Konigsburg.
I think this story has held up well over nearly 40 years because it does have a good plot (see my last post on Holes) and is appealing to children. Konigsburg’s Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley and Me, Elizabeth was named a Newbery Honor book the same year (that feat has not been repeated).
An actress named Jan Miner narrated the audiobook. She did a great job with the voice of Mrs. Frankweiler, the narrator, but her take on Jamie was too loud and had too much of a (Jersey?) accent.
© Amanda Pape - 2007
[The audiobook and a print copy for reference were borrowed from and returned to my university library.]
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