Oh this is the cutest thing. So silly I never read this as a kid. I can tell you exactly why I would have liked it: because I used to pretend to live at the Milwaukee Public Museum in the European Village and/or Streets of Old Milwaukee exhibits. (I, uh, thought they were kind of the same thing. They're right next to each other!) This plan, like Claudia's, also would have worked. I'm just saying.

I didn't realize that Frankweiler herself was present later in the book (that it's not just a remote narrative of what the kids do.) This gives it a really sweet perspective for adults reading the book, I think. And while Claudia's more fastidious feelings are poked fun at a little (but only a little) her big feelings at the end, when she starts to realize she can name what she needs in her life, are really great for all readers to watch her have.

Meg lent me her used copy that has someone else's marks in it. At the end, all of Claudia's lessons are highlighted. But I like to think I MIGHT HAVE sorted them out on my own.