harriet the spy

Fitzhugh, Louise. (2008). Harriet the Spy. Paw Prints.
ISBN: 978-1435273252

An oldie but goodie-- originally published in 1964. Harriet Welsch, an 11 year old New Yorker, wants to be a writer. With her kind but distant parents constantly busy, Harriet’s most trusted adult is her nanny, Ole Golly. Golly encourages Harriet in her quest to be a writer. To hone her journalism skills, Harriet spies on everyone and writes down her observations in a secret notebook. Harriet is a little odd; her favorite sandwich is tomato and mayonnaise, and while she has good friends, Sport and Janie, she has enemies at school, too.

While Harriet lives a charmed life in some ways, a string of hard events befall her. First, Ole Golly leaves her post as nanny to get married. Then, Harriet’s notebook goes missing, and falls into the hands of her rivals at school. Harriet must now fend for herself as she does battle with the “Spy Catcher Club” that forms to exact revenge for what she wrote in her notebook.

This book showcases a strong female protagonist who’s not afraid to speak her mind, an understanding adult who encourages her, and the power of words—a potentially thought-provoking topic in this age of twitter and Facebook. A great independent or read aloud selection for those who like realistic fiction.