Days spent at the museum

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

E.L. Konigsburg

This book is about two kids who run away from home, Claudia and Jamie. Claudia is bored with her monotonous everyday life. She picks her brother Jamie to run away with. They run away from home and go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they hide in the bathroom. When they come out of the bathroom it is morning. They start exploring the museum and learning things. For the next few days they spend much of their time looking at the museum’s new exhibit, a statue of an angel, possibly sculpted by Michelangelo. Claudia wants to prove that he did it, and if you want to know who made it, read the book.

Reviewed by Sasha, age 9

The Gooden School

Sierra Madre

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“Hoot”

Carl Hiaasen

Everyone was extremely happy that the new Pancake House was going to open. That is, until middle-schoolers Roy, Beatrice and Mullet Fingers found out that there were owls living underground at the construction site. Can these brave kids help stop the project, or will it still go through? You really should read this book because it is one of the most exciting and funniest books I have ever read.

Reviewed by Janna, age 11

Ivanhoe Elementary School

Los Angeles

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“Too Many Tamales”

Gary Soto

This story is about a girl who wants to look like a grown-up, but her actions are still childish. She disobeys her mother just to get what she wants. This very act gets her in trouble. Thinking that she lost her mother’s ring while making tamales, she takes upon herself the daunting task of eating all the tamales with her cousins. Determined to find it, she feels guilty and ashamed of herself when she is unable to do so. Read the book to find out the moral of the story.

Reviewed by Paloma, age 9

La Ballona Elementary School

Culver City

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Kids, send us your reviews. Mail them to Kids’ Reading Room, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012; or fax to (213) 237-5946; or e-mail kidsreadingroom@latimes.com. Be sure to include your age, school and contact information.