Harriet the Spy: Novel-Ties Study Guide

I read this because it is considered a classic in children's literature. I cannot for the life of me figure out why. Harriet is not a particularly interesting character, nor does she engage in interesting adventures. The plot and characters are outdated.

saw reviews in a magazine decided to order the book, too confusing for me, just not my type of book. Certainly a me issue and not the author or the book, I am very picky on what I read unfortunately this was not it. I will however, try it again maybe changing my scenery when reading will make a difference

Although the premise is an original one (a pre-teen "spy" who obsessively observes various people, particularly her classmates), the actual story is rather appalling to me. Harriet is an undisciplined (her parents are pathetic!), spoiled, and very selfish child, given to mean-spiritedness and disloyalty. Her eventual "comeuppance" leads to her reassessing her behavior & belligerently barging on as before (i.e., there is not much "redemptive" behavior). The accolades accorded this book are most undeserved in my opinion - Harriet is very unlikable, her actions (banging into the cook, snooping in a dumbwaiter, racing up the stairs every single time) all seem very contrived to me, as if the author said, "What can I do to make Harriet unusual, independent, & aggressive" - not, "What can I do to make Harriet a believable little girl with an original outlook?" The character of Ole Golly was perhaps the most interesting part of the book (although she too is contrived, unlikable & weird: what did she think Harriet would conclude about Ole Golly's retarded mother, given Harriet's general outlook?) - unfortunately her influence on Harriet, much more important to Harriet than the influence of her parents, was faint and not altogether positive (lie to get yourself out of trouble!). P.S. I'm giving my brand-new 50-year anniversary copy to the library - I was really most disappointed.

Read this to my almost four year old daughter before bed for a few weeks until we finished it. She liked it and was engaged in the story and the characters although I'm not sure if she comprehended all the things that happened in the book. There are some disturbing thoughts by some of the characters (such as blowing up people) that I censored for my young daughter while reading, but for an older child I think the book would be fine to read. The book gave my daughter and I an opportunity to discuss the complex emotions and social situations the characters experience. Overall I liked the book a lot, it seems like an honest and believable portrayal of a young girls life.

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I bought this for my granddaughter and read it, therefore never gave it to her. Harriet is a brat whose parents don't stand up to her and the moral of the story is sometimes you have to lie. Not something I want to encourage in my grandchildren.

I remembered reading and loving this book as a child, and I recently purchased it for my soon-to-be 10 year old niece. I had read it when I was her age, and as I think about which books to buy for her for the holidays and for birthdays, I find that I am re-visiting (or perhaps re-living) my own childhood and young adult favorites. Before I wrapped it, I read it, wondering if my memory from 40 years ago matches the book. I thought it did, but what surprised me most were the negative and so-so comments and ratings. Granted, our reviews are opinions, and readers are entitled to their own opinions.

I thought the book was very well-written, with interesting characters, a storyline that will appeal to kids, and enough of a dose of reality so that even kids today should be able to relate to Harriet, Sport, Janie, Marion, Rachel, Beth, the Boy with Purple Socks, etc.

"Harriet the Spy" is the story of an 11 year old who lives in New York City with her very wealthy, socialite parents. I don't remember that her father worked, but her parents are wealthy enough to live in a nice brownstone and have live-in help in the form of a nurse (for Harriet), a cook, maids, and like many very wealthy (today we'd call them the 1%) parents, did not have too much to do with their only child. Harriet attends a private school with her friends Janie and Sport, who do not appear to be of the same socio-economic class as Harriet. Sport cooks, cleans, handles the banking and pays the bills because his writer father cannot be bothered. He worries because he has more responsibilities and knows what happens when bills don't get paid. Janie appears to be a little better off financially than Sport (she's forced to take ballet lessons, which she hates) but perhaps not as well off as Harriet.

Up to this time, Harriet has led a very sheltered, protected life in many ways, and yet in others, she is very much a child of her times (book was first published in 1964). Although she has a nurse to watch her, make sure that she does what she is supposed to do, and who has essentially raised her (there's a line in the book in which Harriet asks her parents if she can eat with them), she has decided that she wants to be a writer, and that the best way to get ideas for stories is to observe (spy) on people. Other kids might have had a paper route, but Harriet has her spy route. She has a number of people she watches, and she sneaks into homes, rooms, etc. so she can see and hear what they do, how they live, with whom they interact, and learns about their problems.

Harriet, like any good budding author or journalist, writes down all of her observations in a notebook. Because she's only 11, a kid, she's brutally honest in her observations and comments, even about her friends let alone her enemies.

Her nurse leaves her to get married, and Harriet has lost her anchor. She continues her spy route, but life turns upside for her one day when she and her classmates are running around on the playground, trying to knock books out of eachother's arms. Her classmates find her notebook and read it. They're angry and hurt to find themselves the subject of mocking commentary, and Harriet finds herself alone because she did not limit her comments to those on her spy route and the kids she didn't like, but included her friends as well. Harriet is ostracized, and she has to decide what to do, with no guidance from her parents and no Ole Golly (nurse).

The book covers many of the issues kids this age face--cruelty (kids are cruel), bullying, getting along with others, changing friendships, relationships with parents, school life, and more.

I liked Harriet, even though she is not the most likable or nicest character. She has some growing up to do, and she does learn from her mistakes (along with getting some excellent advice from her old nurse when she truly needs it). The other kids in the book all have their strengths and weaknesses too--none of them are perfect. Janie can be mean. Sport worries too much. There are two mean girls who try (and often succeed) in running things at their school. There are kids who are shy and mousy, but readers learn more about them too.

As many of these issues have not gone away, and because even today there are still the popular kids, the mean girls, the smart kids, the rich kids, the poor kids, clueless teachers, sometimes even more clueless parents (though perhaps not as much today because parents tend to be much more involved in their kids' day to day lives). Some things will seem foreign to my niece, such as an 11 year old being permitted to roam about NYC on her own! And I liked that Harriet took responsibility for what happened, owned it, and learned that life goes on as well as learning a hard lesson (that there is such a thing as a good lie or a social lie, told so you don't hurt people's feelings).

I was surprised by some of the negative comments here. The book is not a morality tale, and therefore it didn't bother me that Harriet wasn't perfect or even always nice. Many characters in juvenile literature and even in classic literature are not perfect or nice people. In the kids' book "Johnny Tremain", the main character is not nice at all--he's an arrogant, cocky, mean bully, who has to suffer some setbacks before he improves as a human being. I see Harriet in a similar light. Others didn't like what the other kids did to her, but which I thought was a very natural reaction after reading her mean but honest comments about themselves. Others didn't like how Harriet got back at those who ostracized her (she's 11, not 40), and her reaction and revenge seemed so normal for how kids that age think and handle matters, and the book still ended on a positive note (Sport and Janie accepting her apology and getting back to being friends again, although I'm sure that they were not as trusting as they were previously. Harriet is not a wimp, and I think that will appeal to a 10 year old.

Eleven-year-old Harriet Welsch prides herself on her observation skills. Each day, she goes on a "route" after school, spying on various neighborhood residents and writing what she sees in a notebook. Harriet also jots down various observations and assessments about her parents, her nanny Ole Golly and her friends, making the notebook double as a journal of sorts.

As Harriet is only writing for herself, she doesn't hold back as she tries to figure out the world around her. Sometimes she is downright brutal in her observations -- making the notebook the very thing to turn her life upside down when it falls into the wrong hands. Suddenly Harriet is the most hated person at school, with her classmates even forming a club against her. How can she possibly make her friends trust her again?

On the surface, this classic story about an intelligent adolescent girl is a fun read for kids. Harriet is sassy and independent, going on adventures around her New York City home. Yet really, the story goes much deeper than that. As Harriet's life turns miserable, it's a chance for readers to see just what the consequences of her behavior can be. Parents and teachers alike will be glad to have such a multi-faceted, realistic girl to serve as model; no child will be able to help relating to Harriet's experiences.

Overall Review: Harriet the Spy is not your average spy story--nor is it your average `coming of age' story. There is a great deal of depth as we follow Harriet through a very difficult time in her life. For Harriet, when it rains, it pours, it seems. She is thrust into a horrible situation as she finds herself completely alone: Ole Golly (her nanny of 11 years) has left, her parents are too busy to talk to her, and her friends have all turned against her. Harriet is such a lovely and flawed character--the perfect `kid'! She is self-centered and self-preserving and I constantly found myself wondering if she would ever figure out how to make things right, but I loved her for it! She calls herself a spy--and was very good at seeing outward appearances. I enjoyed following her on her spy route and watching the antics of the different people she spied on: The Dei Santi family with their restaurant, Little Joe Curry with his street urchins, Harrison Withers and his cats, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson and their `baby'... What funny characters!

There is nothing shallow in this book. It is complex and full of morals and lessons. The emotions are deep and resonating. I felt the hollow hole after Ole Golly's leaving; the anger and hatred when the notebook is found and everyone shuns her; the loneliness of feeling that no one loves you nor wants you around; the crush of your spirit when they take away that which is most precious to you and what makes you who you are. I read this out loud to my children, and we had some great discussions--it brought up some very interesting points about life and growing up. Harriet the Spy takes you on a journey of self-discovery. It is at the same time funny, heart breaking, hilarious, and frustrating, and is a coming of age story that will strike a chord in children and adults alike! Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: A few mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT: NONE

VIOLENCE: A few mild instances

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 12+

There are a few mild instances of profanity in this book(6).

The violence usually consists of the average middle school vindictive acts: hitting others (or imagining hitting others), tripping people, chopping off someone's hair, etc. There was also a lot of shouting (one character was always a bit frustrated) and some mild mental abuse, such as shunning, mocking, breaking another's spirit.

The mature themes are fairly mild, such as: dealing with the sudden loss of a close friend/loved one, dealing with ostracism, and learning to stand on your own two feet.

Harriet the Spy is a Clean Read for ages 12+!!

This review was written by Emily
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer

To see more fantastic books reviewed with content in mind, visit us at squeakycleanreads.com

I first read Harriet the Spy somewhere between 9 and 11. Immediately, I knew I needed a spy outfit and tools and started taking notes. I've kept a journal off and on for the past 40 years thanks to Louise Fitzhugh. I could empathize with Harriet during her difficulties as I, too, had peer problems that were traumatic. I like to think that Harriet and the rest of the kids are timeless characters that may not text, but probably could blend in with kids today. If you enjoyed this book as a child, then re-read it for a treat. Especially do this if you have a youngster to share it with... I figure even boys could enjoy this story. Kids probably between 9 and 13 would enjoy this.

Eleven-year-old Harriet M. Welsch experiences stormy
days in 6th grade as a result of her habit/hobby/obsession:
writing down her thoughts and observations in a notebook all during the day. Not just on her after-school Spy Route (when she snoops through windows and even sneaks into private homes to ferret out information about her adult neighbors). Oh no, but during the schoolday in her actual classroom--when she should be concentrating on lessons or doing her work. But for Harriet keeping a Notebook IS her work--one which she relishes.

Disaster occurs when her famous notebook accidentally is lost and then read aloud by her classmates, who are anything but flattered or amused by her juvenile commentary. In fact there ensues a nasty social revolt; Harriet is so discomfited by the peer hostility that her desperate parents send her to a professional child psychologist. This rather long YA book is divided into two parts: Book one depicts her critical relationship with her matronly, non-nonsense nanny--Ole Golly. Book two shows the girl without this towering influence in her young life. We sympathize with Harriet's struggle to accept the sudden loss of this mentor in literature and social behavior. Perhaps she was too dependent on her nanny, but the sidden, harsh separation undermined her foundation of common sense.

This story should appeal to elementary children since it examines group dynamics and school situations. Fitzhugh subtly suggests the importance of writing and the responsibility of authors. How to balance truthful reportage with consideration to others? Are lies justified to recover lost friendships? Is a public retraction too humiliating? Kids will relate to Harriet's increasing shunning, as well as be amused by her desperate measures to prove herself independent and unbowed regarding her Journaling mania; Harriet learns the Power and the Peril of the Pen!

Harriet the Spy
By Louise Fitzhugh

I have read Harriet the Spy, watched the movie and listened to the book on tape. I don't seem to tire of this story. My daughter was a writer from an early age, and has been known to carry around a journal, to record events and ideas. We were both devastated when Harriet's classmates got their hands on her notebook and read about her impressions of them.

If you have a tendency to spy or are curious about the world, you will not be disappointed by Hariet the Spy.

What would you do if someone discovered your secrets? Would you get even? Hide in your room, and never come out? Would you apologize and write good things about people in the school paper?

There was a hard lesson to be learned, but Hariet learned that being so honest doen't always pay. How about the golden rule?

Jill Ammon Vanderwood
Author: Through the Rug
 Through The Rug: Follow That Dog (Through the Rug)

"Could Ole Golly have a family, how could she have a mother and a father? She is too old." Harriet the Spy by L. Fitzhugh takes place in Harriet's neighborhood. Harriet writes about her nanny Ole Golly mostly. Harriet is the protagonist who wants to be a writer when she grows up she writes mean things about her friends and family. Later on she looses her notebook. Will her friends find her notebook and the mean things she wrote about them?
Harriet the spy is funny and intriguing book because it makes you want to read it. The author shows this book to be intriguing because a 10 year old girl is sneaking into peoples houses and writing about them in her note book. You should read this book because it is descriptive. The author shows that because you can see an image of her sneaking into people's houses. You also should read this book because the style of the story is creative. The author shows that it is creative by using dialogue, things she wrote in her notebook, and even letters which help the reader understand the story better.
Now you have read the reasons and explanations, get out of your chair and read this book!

This book has many realistic details describing both happenings and feelings. Each of the people and families
Harriet spies on has their own story that makes you think.
You can also think about other people, such as Mrs. Golly, as their behaviour isn't always commented or rated.
I think this book teaches children to accept differences and to dare to be different themselves. Her nurse, Ole Golly tells Harriet that there are lots of ways to live, and
she should find out about them, so that when she grows up, she can live the way she wants instead of the way her family does. This book introduces the readers to some ways. Ole Golly also says that eleven is old enough to start growing up into the person you want to be.
I liked this book because it made me feel I could do anything I wanted to and be really different. I think this might be useful for other children who are too shy or think that they are allowed too little.
I also recommend this book's sequel, The Long Secret, written in the same style. It is about religion, and again--different ways to live. (Of course, both books have good plots, too.)

Upon reading Harriet the Spy, I found myself feeling the same kinds of emotions that I had as an eleven year old. Fitzhugh seems to capture the
environment of the pre-teen world, with its insecurities, its need for belonging, and its mountain of creativity. Harriet, with her notebook and her dream of becoming a writer, Is put through terrible trauma at the loss of her Nanny, Ole Golly, and without her lifelong companion, the events that follow are almost impossible to overcome. When her notebook is stolen, and her peers read everything she has written about them, even Harriet's own best friends turn against her. What comes to follow is the solitude that Harriet faces, and worse than solitude, she must face the scorn of all of her classmates. In the end, Harriet learns the value of a few different things. She learns to apologize, and that in some cases, it's okay to lie. And, most importantly, she learns the value of a good friendship.

One of the best books (written for children or not) ever! Funny, subtle (it rewards re-reading as an adult), and wise.

Each character has distinctive speech patterns and children are cruel and thoughtless as well as full of grace. Fitzhugh was able to get the intense, bright, suffocating world of school and childhood exactly.

There's such subtle, deliciously drawn characterization, much of which is over even Harriet's head, bright and precocious as she is. The sequels The Long Secret and Sport are fabulous too.

And who doesn't love a girl detective? Harriet will always be first in my heart before Nancy Drew.

I notice from reading the reviews on this page that many readers (1) read this book many times and (2) kept a notebook similar to Harriet's. I literally read this book about thirty times and still pick it up once in a while. And I loved having a notebook with all of my opinions, which I seldom expressed out loud.
I love this book because it's more real and original. Many books about sixth-grade girls have a character who is always following the rules and is never sad for more than an hour. Harriet, though, has a unique and risky hobby and real feelings.
By the way, if you saw the movie, I must tell you that the book has a much darker mood, and Harriet is not cute like the actress is. Despite those two main flaws, the movie actually is pretty accurate with the book. But to get the real flavor of the story, you must read the book

This wonderful book had a strong, female protagonist who was clearly intelligent and eloquent. Harriet eavesdrops, peers through windows and skylights and records her impressions in a notebook. She has regular "spying" stops in the Upper East Side Manhattan neighborhood where she lives. She knows quite a bit about the people in her neighborhood, thanks to her observant nature.
Harriet is a student at the prestigious Gregory School, where she has an assortment of friends -- scientific, aggressive Janie, meek, retiring Beth-Ellen and a fun loving boy called Sport.
When Harriet's notebook falls into the hands of her classmates, problems arise big time. Harriet has a baptism in fire trying to redeem herself in their eyes. Meanwhile, Harriet's nanny is leaving to get married, her formerly disinterested parents are pushing more into her life and lastly, Harriet herself is maturing.
I loved this book so much as a child and do today. This book even inspired me and countless others to keep a notebook. It was a book about the empowerment of a strong female character.

Unlike most of the reviewers, I enjoyed reading "Harriet the Spy" but did not end up truly loving it. For one thing, I never liked Harriet's lack of introspection. She was always looking at people but never really seeing them as anything more than characters to write about. As an author, Harriet would have interesting people in her stories and all sorts of far-out, imaginative, creative plots--all pretty two-dimensional, for that is how Harriet saw life. She never seemed to understand another element in people, one that helps them get along with others and still be individuals.
Many of the characters in this book were extremely fascinating. In the hands of another writer, their personalities could have been deeper and more profound. Louise Fitzhugh just makes some of them look like caricatures.
Of course, in the end, everything works out (read that however you wish) and Harriet, as the protagonist, learns all sorts of valuable lessons. I wonder if she realized the meanings of those lessons, however, because she did not write about her reactions to them. Most of her commentaries are short and dry. She does not reflect on things. To be extremely fair, I have to say that the readers do reflect on what happens to Harriet, whether or not she herself does so. This is why many people have come away loving this book and learning a lot from it.

I notice from reading the reviews on this page that many readers (1) read this book many times and (2) kept a notebook similar to Harriet's. I literally read this book about thirty times and still pick it up once in a while. And I loved having a notebook with all of my opinions, which I seldom expressed out loud.
I love this book because it's more real and original. Many books about sixth-grade girls have a character who is always following the rules and is never sad for more than an hour. Harriet, though, has a unique and risky hobby and real feelings.
By the way, if you saw the movie, I must tell you that the book has a much darker mood, and Harriet is not cute like the actress is. Despite those two main flaws, the movie actually is pretty accurate with the book. But to get the real flavor of the story, you must read the book

This wonderful book had a strong, female protagonist who was clearly intelligent and eloquent. Harriet eavesdrops, peers through windows and skylights and records her impressions in a notebook. She has regular "spying" stops in the Upper East Side Manhattan neighborhood where she lives. She knows quite a bit about the people in her neighborhood, thanks to her observant nature.
Harriet is a student at the prestigious Gregory School, where she has an assortment of friends -- scientific, aggressive Janie, meek, retiring Beth-Ellen and a fun loving boy called Sport.
When Harriet's notebook falls into the hands of her classmates, problems arise big time. Harriet has a baptism in fire trying to redeem herself in their eyes. Meanwhile, Harriet's nanny is leaving to get married, her formerly disinterested parents are pushing more into her life and lastly, Harriet herself is maturing.
I loved this book so much as a child and do today. This book even inspired me and countless others to keep a notebook. It was a book about the empowerment of a strong female character.

Unlike most of the reviewers, I enjoyed reading "Harriet the Spy" but did not end up truly loving it. For one thing, I never liked Harriet's lack of introspection. She was always looking at people but never really seeing them as anything more than characters to write about. As an author, Harriet would have interesting people in her stories and all sorts of far-out, imaginative, creative plots--all pretty two-dimensional, for that is how Harriet saw life. She never seemed to understand another element in people, one that helps them get along with others and still be individuals.
Many of the characters in this book were extremely fascinating. In the hands of another writer, their personalities could have been deeper and more profound. Louise Fitzhugh just makes some of them look like caricatures.
Of course, in the end, everything works out (read that however you wish) and Harriet, as the protagonist, learns all sorts of valuable lessons. I wonder if she realized the meanings of those lessons, however, because she did not write about her reactions to them. Most of her commentaries are short and dry. She does not reflect on things. To be extremely fair, I have to say that the readers do reflect on what happens to Harriet, whether or not she herself does so. This is why many people have come away loving this book and learning a lot from it.

In this totally realistic book, Harriet writes truthful (but not always nice) notes about her classmates, parents, cook, ect., until her friends find her notebook and read it. She also goes around spying on her neighbors, and writes it all down in her infamous notebook. Almost every kid who reads this book goes around spying on their neighbors and writting down their thoughts for a while. When I heard they were making a movie, I had no desire to see it because I knew they would change it a lot from the book, and from what I heard, saw, and read, I was right. I have read this book at least four times already, and I am only 11. Take it from me, read the book, it's a million times better then the movie.

Louise Fitzbaugh's book involves an 11 year old girl with a fiercely independent streak who doesn't realize how dependent on others she actually is. Her goal is to become a world famous spy and considers herself "working" when she wanders around the city spying on others and recording all of her observations in her notebook. What she discovers through her travels is how others can be hurt by her words and also how much she needs her friends and family despite her initial opinion that she needs no one but herself.

Fitzbaugh's writing pulls the reader into the story and allows you to identify with exactly what the main character, Harriet, is experiencing and feeling. It is a perfect encapsulation of exactly how a girl that age is feeling and the range of emotions young girls deal with as they are trying desparately to join the adult world while retaining their childhood fun.

This book will be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

What better way to seek refuge from society than in pen and paper? It is a secret all great writers know and one that can't be learned early enough. Harriet's pencil and notebook are her constant companions in a chaotic and sometimes cruel world. Her observations about people and life around her are poignant, insightful and at times, as hurtful as the world she writes about. Growing up is often difficult. Maintaining your individuality while learning to co-exist with others can be even harder. But through thick and thin, the notebook remains, a refuge for any girl growing up and trying to find her place in the world. I look forward to reading the sequel, The Long Secret

Harriet the Spy

Harriet is an only child with a vivid imagination. She occupies herself by taking notes about every individual she encounters. She even has a set route of people she spies on. She writes down everything she deems important. In order to stay true to her spy skills, she is forced to even take note of the not so nice part of her friends. In doing so, she sets herself up for disaster!! When the notebook falls into the wrong hands, how is she going to survive the consequences? Harriet must examine her own life views and the views of others in order to make things right, if making them right again is even possible.

I enjoyed Harriet the Spy for the lessons taught about spying on others. There are many times when we do not know the whole story and judge based only on what we see. Harriet has to be responsible for what she said and possibly lose what is most important to her. When children read this novel, they will be able to understand both sides of the coin and decide how they would want their own situations resolved.

brm3301

This makes me an outcast, perhaps. But I absolutely loathe Harriet the Spy. No, not the book. The character. Harriet. The first time I read this book I ripped it to pieces and had to pay the library. This book is honest and groundbreaking and all that, perhaps. But I cannot stand it. It makes me want to throw up, but that's too passive. I did like that girl who wanted to blow up the world. But if I ever encounter Harriet on the street, there's going to be trouble. I don't understand why and how we are supposed to like this character, much less how and why so many people do. But I think she is the basest sort of person, and deserving of far, far more punishment than she gets. I have now written two reviews based on the main characters; both characters write in journals things which they would never speak. I love Mary Lou Finney (from "Absolutely Normal Chaos" by Sharon Creech). I despise Harriet. And, wow, it's great to get this all off my chest.