Claudia Kincaid is bored with her suburban life, so she convinces her little brother Jamie to run away with her to nearby New York City. She’s carefully chosen a hideaway that is comfortable, beautiful, and elegant: the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Once they’re set up in the museum, Claudia finds herself transfixed by a statue—and the mystery behind it—and her fascination leads the two children on an incredible adventure.

This quirky novel lives in the shadow of its better-known companions From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and The View from Saturday, it deserves more recognition—especially the terrific audio edition read by Edward Herrmann. This story is about a kid with a dream, a search for a true friend, and a long-buried secret that dates all the way back to Nazi Germany.