The Atlantic

In Memory of E.L. Konigsburg and Mrs. Frankweiler's Mixed-Up Files

This weekend brought the news that beloved children's author E.L. Konigsburg had died at the age of 83. But in our minds, the authors of our childhood favorites never grow old, nor does their writing.

This article is from the archive of our partner .

This weekend brought the news that beloved children's author E.L. Konigsburg had died at the age of 83 after suffering a stroke the week before. from the generations who've grown up reading her books. The feeling was of sadness, but alsoThat book, probably her most popular, is now well into middle-age at more than 45 years old. But in our minds, the authors of our childhood favorites never grow old, nor does their writing.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The Atlantic

The Atlantic4 min read
Hayao Miyazaki’s Anti-war Fantasia
Once, in a windowless conference room, I got into an argument with a minor Japanese-government official about Hayao Miyazaki. This was in 2017, three years after the director had announced his latest retirement from filmmaking. His final project was
The Atlantic8 min readAmerican Government
The Most Consequential Recent First Lady
This article was featured in the One Story to Read Today newsletter. Sign up for it here. The most consequential first lady of modern times was Melania Trump. I know, I know. We are supposed to believe it was Hillary Clinton, with her unbaked cookies
The Atlantic4 min read
KitchenAid Did It Right 87 Years Ago
My KitchenAid stand mixer is older than I am. My dad bought the white-enameled machine 35 years ago, during a brief first marriage. The bits of batter crusted into its cracks could be from the pasta I made yesterday or from the bread he made then. I

Related Books & Audiobooks