Rating: Needs Parent Supervision

Reading Level: Mid-Elementary, Late Elementary

A girl and her younger brother concoct an elaborate plan to run away from home and stay at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. They become interested in a statue that leads them to the very luxurous home of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The book is written from her perspective, after the children spill the beans about their story.

Possible Concerns:

  • Running away from home.
  • Gambling. The younger brother wins money from others through gambling games (stakes are less than one dollar).
  • Harsh sibling interactions. The sister and brother are often harsh or cutting towards each other. If I remember correctly there may have been some “shut up” comments too.
  • Identity Crisis. The girl admits she wants to be special, and that’s why she ran away from home.
  • Body humor. Nakedness, etc., is discussed briefly at a couple points.
  • Stealing coins from a public fountain.
  • Deception. They deceive parents and bus drivers, museum staff, etc.

If you decide it’s ok for your reader, I recommend having a conversation about identity and what makes someone special. The book suggests that having a secret makes you special, but kids would benefit from a discussion about how we are uniquely created with gifts and talents that make us special, and moreover that we are precious to God, and that makes us special.