Why is this such a good book?

[Emma]

I really love this book. But I can't figure out why.
Do you like it?

[Juliet]

nope

[Anna]

I really love it too. Maybe because the author knows how make a really great storyline without ruining. Wouldn't it be great to see it as a movie?

[Gretchen]

I remember reading it as a kid. Who didn't then think about what museum or place they would love to sneak in and live.

[Joanna]

I don't really know either but I read it as a child in the 1960's and re-read again a couple of years ago. Maybe it's the title, or maybe because I've since been to the Metropolitan Museum.

[[deleted user]]

I read it a few years ago and I still don't know why I liked it so much and would consider re-reading it... It was really good...

[Steve]

Anna C. wrote: ". Wouldn't it be great to see it as a movie?"

I am happy to report that there are 2 Movies, and they are both faithful to the novel as I recall.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_t...

[Therese]

LOVED this book as a kid and reread it a few years back when my daughter brought it home. I fantasized about running away and living in a museum, second favorite place with a library being first.

[Kins]

ahahahaha I know. This was my absolute favorite book as a kid. I think it's the one that actually made me start reading.

For me, I liked it because I always fantasied about running away and living in a museum or library. It was also really cool because it was actually believable that they got away with it for so long. I still remember walking through museums as a kid and thinking about where I could hide.

[Jason]

This and "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" stick out as really great kids books. I think it was exciting as a kid to think about running away and making it on your own. The part about living in a museum and taking change from the fountain seems really fun.

[Teri]

I love this book. I think it's because it's every kid's fantasy to hide out in a place at night and see what it's like with no one around. And to get away with it and solve a mystery all at the same time is just icing on the cake!

[Rani]

I doubt if any writer can actually write a book like this anymore. It is simple, honest, and direct. It was the time and place in the society that allowed this book to be written. Great work!

[Anne]

One of my favorite kids' books! I also liked thinking what it would be like to be in the Metropolitan Museum at night with no grown-ups around. When I was a teenager I used to fantasize about sneaking into the Huntington Gardens (in San Marino, near where I grew up)at night and running around with the place to myself. I think the book works because we all like to read about outlaws!

[[deleted user]]

I'm on the inbetween line

[Saski]

I have a very strong memory of reading this book more than once as a kid. I especially loved the fountain scene and think of it every time I see coins in a fountain. (now someone is going to tell me I am thinking of a different book.)

[DW]

Here is a book about kids, written for kids, but it's not "dumbed-down" for kids. There are a lot of careful details written about how they escaped and what they did to solve the mystery. I absolutely LOVE to read the part when they're hiding in the bus and in the bathroom when the statue's being moved. It's truly an adventure! I have to say, though, that one of my favorite things about it is the witty dialogue. They feel like a real brother and sister, the way she corrects his grammar and he complains about her spending money. Mrs. Frankweiler is even a little snarky in the letters to the lawyer. The characters have a lot of personality and I find myself rooting for them the whole time.

[J]

Mrs. Basil tucks truisms about character and integrity between the pages while two kids learn the true meaning of independence and responsibility.

[Licha]

I think it's time for another re-read. This was all about an adventure. What kid probably didn't dream about running away to such a fun, cool place. One of my favorite kid books.

[Cyndi]

Jason Z. wrote: "This and "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" stick out as really great kids books. I think it was exciting as a kid to think about running away and making it on your own. The part about living in a m..."

I think because most bookworm would run away to the library or museum in a heartbeat and I think anyone who has been active in church pagents knows a family like the one in the Best Christmas Pagent Ever. It just stikes a chord with you as a child and then, as an adult you remember that and pass them on to the next generation of bookworms. And I loved the movies, too!

[Vanessa]

I think teenagers want to find some liberty, some way to express who they are which is not influenced by their parents, siblings, and even friends. She wanted to figure out on her own a place to live and how to live. She is writing a mystery (the book) while living the mystery.

[Dakota]

The freedom that this book represented to me at a young age was very thrilling. I was constantly excited about turning the page. I am into abandoned places or large people-less buildings so the whole museum idea was very exciting.
I love the characters and the movie adaption I saw just doubled my enjoyment of this book.

[Lori]

I just loved this book when i was a kid. it came out when i was around the character's age. in 1967.{about nine years old} i read this again a few days ago now that i am a bit past 50. it had fond memories for me. as a kid when I read this i found it fascinating that these kids who were my age could pull off hiding in a museum for a week. this book still holds up today. It is kind of fun that i can say "oh yes, i remember when in 1967 how much certain things cost"

[Lauren]

I think it's because the premise is so original. With a lot of Konigsberg's books, I think to myself, how did she come up with that? My mother, a huge Konigsberg fan herself, always has the same answer: she's brilliant.

[[deleted user]]

Juliet wrote: "nope"

really y

[Paula]

I read this in the 3rd grade growing up as a kid in the middle of Kansas. It was an adventure that only dreams could be made of... it spurred my desire to visit NYC as soon as could manage it. To date, NYC is still my favorite city, The Metropolitan Art Musuem is also a favorite where I took my kid often when we lived on the East Coast. I have 8 different editions and cherish each one.