From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

In the mid-1960s, 12-year-old Claudia Kincaid lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, with her parents and three younger brothers. Feeling underappreciated at home compared to her spoiled brothers, Claudia plans to run away from home and stay in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mrs. Frankweiler speculates that Claudia may also be bored with her mundane, repetitive life. Claudia plans to take Jamie, her second-youngest brother, with her since he has a lot of money saved up. For a few weeks, Claudia saves her weekly allowance to cover train fare; she also manages to recover a spare train pass from her parents’ trash.

Claudia waits until the Monday before the Wednesday she plans to leave to tell Jamie. On the way to school, she sits by Jamie on the bus. Jamie is upset because he usually sits by his friend Bruce, who plays the card game War with him. In a note to Saxonberg, Mrs. Frankweiler explains the rules of War. Claudia invites Jamie to join her “on the greatest adventure of our mutual lives” (13). At first, Jamie isn’t interested, but he softens as Claudia explains that she chose him specifically.

Claudia shares her plan to leave on Wednesday, filling their instrument cases with supplies. Jamie reveals that he has $24.43 saved and that he wins money from his card game with Bruce. After Jamie agrees to come, Claudia promises to write down detailed instructions for Jamie to follow; he offers to eat the instructions after reading them because he “likes complications” (17).

As they get off the bus, Claudia takes her turn guiding Kevin, her six-year-old brother; Kevin complains that he would rather walk with Steve, the brother who is between Jamie and Claudia in age.

The next night, Jamie finds and follows Claudia’s written instructions, then begins to swallow the paper but gives up after two bites.

On Wednesday morning, Claudia and Jamie hide in the back of the school bus after everyone else gets off. After the driver parks at the school bus lot, they wait several minutes before exiting the bus. As they do, Claudia is surprised by a loud noise coming from Jamie because his pockets are full of change. Claudia also questions Jamie’s decision to bring his compass. He assumed that they would be hiding in the woods and is disappointed to learn that they will be going to the museum. As they talk, Claudia objects to Jamie’s grammar, particularly the phrases “hide out in” and “run away to” (23-26).

On their way to the train station, Claudia drops off a letter to their parents, asking them not to worry, as well as some box tops worth $.25. She and Jamie take the 10:42 train from Greenwich to Grand Central Station. When Jamie tries to convince Claudia that they should hide in Central Park instead of the museum, she refuses but appoints him treasurer of their funds.

As treasurer, Jamie insists that they walk the 40 blocks to the museum rather than take a bus or taxi. Tired and cold, Claudia falls behind Jamie but catches up to him at stoplights. She makes fun of him for consulting his compass in the middle of Manhattan but cheers up when he compliments her for selecting New York City as a hiding place, since it is easy to go unnoticed.

Claudia and Jamie pass a security guard as they enter the museum. Addressing Saxonberg directly, Mrs. Frankweiler scolds him for never visiting the “great and large and wonderful” museum (32). After checking in their bags, and at Jamie’s insistence, they buy lunch in the snack bar downstairs instead of the more expensive restaurant. Alarmed at the cost of their meal, Jamie wonders if he could get a guard to play War with him as a way of making money; Claudia reminds him not to draw attention to himself. She explains her plan for them to hide in bathroom stalls after the museum closes until the guards leave.

Claudia and Jamie visit a display of English and French furniture from the Renaissance era, and Claudia picks a bed to sleep in that night. Jamie opposes the idea, since sleeping in a bed is “no challenge,” but he changes his mind when he reads that the bed belonged to Amy Robsart, who may have been murdered. In that moment, Claudia and Jamie each admit that the other is “not too bad” (38), and they begin to feel unified as a team. Mrs. Frankweiler mentions to Saxonberg that she owns a similar antique bed that she is reluctant to donate.

Following their plan, Claudia and Jamie check out of the museum, then return through a back door, telling the guard stationed there that they are just passing through to meet their mother. They hide in the bathrooms until the guards are gone, then make their way to the bed. Claudia worries for a while, but she and Jamie soon fall asleep well before their usual bedtime.