Review – Harriet the Spy
Harriet the Spyby Louise Fitzhugh
From the back cover -
“When I grow up I’m going to find out everything about everybody and put it all in a book.”
So writes Harriet M. Welsch, who is determined to grow up to be a famous author. In the meantime, she practices by following a regular spy route each day and writing down everything she sees in a secret notebook.
“Janie gets stranger every day. I think she might blow up the world. I once saw Miss Elson when she didn’t see me and she was picking her nose.”
Then one morning, Harriet’s life is turned upside down. Her classmates find her spy notebook and read it out loud. Harriet’s in big trouble. The other sixth-graders are stealing her tomato sandwiches, forming a spy-catcher club, and writing notes of their own – all about Harriet!
My thoughts -
When I was a kid, I probably read this book over 100 times. No kidding, it was absolutely, positively, my favorite book ever. I even spent a brief (I mean very brief, like two days) period of time writing in my own notebook throughout the day all of my observations about the world around me. I never went so far as to create a spy route, but I sure did love Harriet M. Welsch.
I hadn’t read Harriet the Spy in probably ten years at least when I decided to mooch it for the nostaligia aspect, and I’m so glad I did. Rereading this book was like catching up with an old friend, someone that you know so well and knows you better than you know yourself. I almost could recite every word on every page, but it was still so much fun to read about Harriet again. I’m definitely keeping this book around for my own kids (when I have them), and probably to reread again later on. 
10 stars.
Read Valentina’s review here.
What fun to reread a favorite childhood book as an adult and still love it as much as the first time around!
It’s so nice to relive something so fun from childhood. It’ll be even more fun when you do it w/your kids (one day :>)
That’s how The Giver is for me… I’ve read it so many times, but every time it’s like the first time again! I love it!
Ah, thanks for reminding me of one of my favorite books as a child. I loved this book – and like you, read it many times!
I’ve never read Harriet the Spy but I sure want to now! Thanks!
My BFF Anna and I played “Harriet the Spy” all summer long when we were in the 4th grade. We’d ride our bikes all over town and swich off writing about the people we spied on. We’d make up stories about them too. I really think that I caught the writing bug from this book.
Thanks for the nostalgic flashback!
I just finished discussing this over on my blog. I love this book! Thanks for also discussing it!
I LOVED this book when I was younger! I used to walk around with a notebook like Harriet and take notes.
Glad to hear I’m not the only person who read Harriet and started a notebook.
yay for Harriet! I love her:)
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