Sixth-grader Claudia Kincaid wants to run away, but doesn't want to do it the regular way, where she's running from something; she wants to do it differently, to run to something. And, so, the adventure of Claudia and Jamie Kincaid begins.

Claudia is mad at her parents. In her view, they take her for granted, because as the oldest of four children and the only girl, she's constantly saddled with household chores and babysitting. Frankly, Claudia has had enough; a germ of an idea gives birth to an entire plan on how she will run away, the mode of transportation she'll use, and where she'll be staying on her adventure. She hatches a plan to run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City from her home in Greenwich, Connecticut.

The next decision is who to take along as an accomplice. Claudia decides...