Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Third-grader Harriet M. Welsch knows she will be a writer when she grows up. In preparation, she carries a notebook and takes notes on her family, friends and even some neighbors she spies on. She does this to make sense of her world. Harriet learns some tough lessons when first her governess, Ole Golly, leaves her post to get married leaving Harriet alone for the first time and then her notebook is found and read by her classmates who are not pleased with the unflattering comments.

Harriet's story is told in chronological narrative order. Throughout the book, conflict can be found within Harriet, with her family and friends individually and her school class. The book is split into three. The first introducing Harriet and ends with Ole Golly leaving. The second book finds Harriet lonely without Ole Golly and ends with her even lonelier after her notebook is read. In the final book, Ole Golly sends a letter and Harriet's problems at school are resolved. The setting is important in creating a place where Harriet is left alone frequently and the city is large enough that her spying is not noticed. Themes of loss, self-acceptance and kindness over truth are found in this story.

I really enjoyed this book as an adult. I was completely entranced turning pages quickly. I did not remember the Ole Golly storyline at all only the spying and notebook trouble. When I first read the book, I would have been in school and the school storyline must have been more appealing. Harriet is a great character and the story depicts cliques and conflicts that arise in school accurately. (At least it did for my school.) I understand that this book was highly controversial because Harriet is a flawed character. I don't find her flawed, I find her true to a child raised in that environment. I would have no problem giving/reading this book to a child.

Fitzhugh, L. (1964). Harriet the spy. New York, NY: Dell Yearling.
ISBN: 0440416795
Illustrated by the author