Harriet the Spy (1964)

(see copy 2; re-read 2019-08-18) ( )

NA

I know I loved this book when I was around 8-10, but now 20-something years later, I find myself disappointed and confused. I found the book to be less about Harriet's discoveries while spying and more about the mean thoughts she wrote in her notebooks. Once her friends and classmates take her notebook and see the terrible things she's written about them, they're understandably pissed and isolate Harriet. I know there's a lesson here - obviously, Harriet has to face the consequences for her actions. But I didn't get the impression that Harriet learned much. She's a bit of a jerk and rather than admitting to herself that some of what she wrote was unnecessarily mean, she considers everything to be facts. I also think she could have used more than one therapy session and parents who were more involved in her life. I know that Harriet's situation is a reality for some kids, but I just didn't get what the point of this book was. It think I remember more from the movie than from this book, because my expectations were different. It all felt a little pointless. Maybe I'm missing something, but usually middle-grade that deals with tough lessons really appeals to me. It's not one I'll be picking up again, sadly. ( )

I have taken up the habit of periodically of reading children's books or something aimed at a pre-teen audience. Sometimes it is something I read growing up, or that I might have read, but don't remember reading. I focus on the classics to see what I might have missed as a kid whose reputations have survived the years. I rarely find I dislike anything of this type that I read, and some of them I love. Harriet the Spy falls into the latter category. I had never heard of Harriet the Spy until reading Julie's, a GR friend, review.

Harriet is quite intelligent. Like many intelligent people, she struggles to interact socially with others not so gifted. She sees a lot in the world around her that she considers "dumb" and meets a lot of people in that world that she views as "dumb". While this perspective can come across as very negative and hurtful, this is not Harriet's intention, but she has to deal with the consequences. I wish I had read this at eleven years of age. The insights provided by the story would have been very valuable for me at that age, but even today are not wasted on me.

I always enjoy learning about any new author I come across. Louise Fitzhugh died at 46. I am sad that her years were so short, but I am happy she left us such a gift.



( )

Harriet likes to pretend that she is a spy. She watches people after school and writes down what she sees them doing. She does this with strangers and friends. After her notebook is taken by her classmates one day, they discover that she has been writing about them. They become hurt and turn their backs on her. I believe this would be a good book for children because they can relate to Harriet and how she likes to play pretend. They can also learn how this can feel invading to some people, and they shouldn't be doing something they know can make other people uncomfortable.