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Reviews
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (1973)
Great Claudia, but....
I adore this book - I read it as a child and now teach it as a teacher! This Claudia is great, mouthy and awkward but sensitive and determined.
SPOILER: My biggest problem is the final lesson that Mrs. Frankenweiler teaches Claudia - the goo about her only sadness being that she couldn't have a child. Where did THAT come from? Why must that foolishness be added to this wonderful story about adventure and choosing individuality? It is like she is saying, "Claudia - it is great to be curious and adventurous but don't forget to have kids because that is the only thing that really matters in the end." She's 12!! My students are totally turned off by that and view Mrs. F in a whole different (distant and not connected to their lives) sort of way. It sacrifices the chance for them to relate to an older person as "cool" and interesting. Too bad.
I haven't had a chance to the see remake but I hope the Lauren Becall wouldn't stand for such sentimental claptrap. (Mind you - with the remake out of print and the only copies I can find costing more than $200 - I don't think I'll be seeing it anytime soon!) By the way, if anyone would like an educational consultant for a new remake - I'm your girl! :) Alice Sensei in Japan