Two books I read as a middle grader that had a profound effect on me were From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and Harriet the Spy. They both felt somehow subversive or dangerous, not because of the running away from home or the spying on friends and neighbors, but rather the idea of kids my age running around New York City unsupervised. These kids had agency, and I found them inspiring. Here are a few contemporary titles that capture that same sense of daring adventure in NYC.

Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

Theodore accidentally spills rubbing alcohol on her late grandfather’s painting and uncovers what may be a hidden Renaissance masterpiece. The problem is, her Grandfather worked as a security guard at the Met.  A mystery with an unlikely band of detectives set in NYC.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

1970s Manhattan meets science fiction when Miranda receives a series of cryptic notes suggesting someone is watching her and knows things that have not yet happened. When You Reach Me tells three stories: Miranda’s mother’s upcoming appearance on the $20,000 Pyramid, Miranda’s breakup with her childhood friend, and the appearance of a homeless man called "The Laughing Man". In the end, the strands come together in a very satisfying way.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Wonderstruck weaves two stories set in two different time periods. Ben and Rose are both hearing-impaired. Ben is 12 in 1977, Rose is 12 fifty years earlier. Both children run away to Manhattan seeking something from their respective absent parents. Like When You Reach Me, these plot lines converge with that satisfying feeling of putting in the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle. 




 

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to​ be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ​picks! Tell us what you'd recommend: Leave a comment or email us.