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Quick answer: If you loved From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, try The Westing Game, Chasing Vermeer, Wonderstruck, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and The Mysterious Benedict Society. Each one is a clever adventure about kids who run away, explore or solve a mystery on their own.
E. L. Konigsburg's Newbery Medal winner follows Claudia Kincaid, who feels unappreciated at home and runs away with her younger brother Jamie to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There they become fascinated by a mysterious angel statue that may have been made by Michelangelo. Readers love its wit, its New York setting and its independent kids. These books share its spirit of adventure and discovery.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Westing Game | Ellen Raskin | 10-14 | kids who love mysteries |
| Chasing Vermeer | Blue Balliett | 9-12 | kids who like art mysteries |
| Wonderstruck | Brian Selznick | 9-12 | kids who like museums |
| The Invention of Hugo Cabret | Brian Selznick | 9-12 | kids who like illustrated novels |
| Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library | Chris Grabenstein | 8-12 | kids who like puzzles |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 9-13 | kids who like gifted kids |
| My Side of the Mountain | Jean Craighead George | 9-12 | kids who like runaways |
| Harriet the Spy | Louise Fitzhugh | 8-12 | kids who like independent heroines |
| The Saturdays | Elizabeth Enright | 8-12 | kids who like New York adventures |
| Greenglass House | Kate Milford | 10-13 | kids who like cozy mysteries |
| Book Scavenger | Jennifer Chambliss Bertman | 9-12 | kids who like book games |
| When You Reach Me | Rebecca Stead | 9-12 | kids who like New York and puzzles |
| The Boxcar Children | Gertrude Chandler Warner | 7-10 | younger readers |
| The Night at the Museum | Milan Trenc | 6-9 | younger readers |
| The Penderwicks | Jeanne Birdsall | 8-12 | kids who like sibling adventures |
1. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Sixteen heirs compete to solve a puzzle.
Best for: kids who love mysteries.
2. Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
Two kids investigate a stolen painting.
Best for: kids who like art mysteries.
3. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Two children, fifty years apart, search for answers in a museum.
Best for: kids who like museums.
4. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
An orphan living in a Paris train station uncovers a secret.
Best for: kids who like illustrated novels.
5. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein
Kids escape a high-tech library using clues.
Best for: kids who like puzzles.
6. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Four kids go undercover.
Best for: kids who like gifted kids.
7. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
A boy runs away to live in the mountains.
Best for: kids who like runaways.
8. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
A girl keeps a secret notebook about everyone she knows.
Best for: kids who like independent heroines.
9. The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright
Four siblings pool their allowance to explore the city.
Best for: kids who like New York adventures.
10. Greenglass House by Kate Milford
A boy solves a mystery at his family's inn.
Best for: kids who like cozy mysteries.
11. Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
A girl joins a game of hiding and finding books.
Best for: kids who like book games.
12. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
A girl receives mysterious notes in 1970s New York.
Best for: kids who like New York and puzzles.
13. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Four orphans make a home in a boxcar.
Best for: younger readers.
14. The Night at the Museum by Milan Trenc
A new night guard discovers that the museum's dinosaur skeletons come to life after dark.
Best for: younger readers.
15. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Four sisters spend a summer at a mansion.
Best for: kids who like sibling adventures.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For museum mysteries, choose Chasing Vermeer, Wonderstruck or The Invention of Hugo Cabret. If you love New York adventures, try When You Reach Me, Harriet the Spy or The Saturdays. For runaways and independence, pick My Side of the Mountain or The Boxcar Children. Kids who like puzzles should read The Westing Game and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. A trip to a local museum after reading is a great way to bring the book to life.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is From the Mixed-Up Files for?
It is usually recommended for ages 8 to 12.
Did it win awards?
Yes. It won the Newbery Medal in 1968.
Is the Metropolitan Museum still like the book?
Many rules have changed, but the museum is still a fun place to visit after reading.
Is the book a mystery?
Yes. The mystery of the angel statue drives the story.
Is there a movie?
Yes. Film versions were made in 1973 and 1995.
Is it a good read-aloud?
Yes. Its humor and short chapters make it a family favorite.