The Plot
Harriet M. Welsch, an eleven year-old living in New York in the late 1960's, is an aspiring spy. She's assigned herself families to watch and takes copious notes about the daily occurrences in her life and the lives of those around her. Some of those notes are kind, but most are not. Initially, her nurse, Ole Golly, provides much-needed guidance to temper Harriet's overly honest curiosity. However, when Ole Golly moves away and Harriet's notebook falls into the wrong hands, Harriet must learn to deal with the consequences of having people know what you really think about everything.
The Review
Fitzhugh does an excellent job creating rich, three dimensional characters. Filled with subtle humor and deep insights about a tween learning about the human condition, it's no wonder that the book has enjoyed more than 30 years' worth of popularity.
That being said, there are some things that date the material. Obviously, the slang is archaic, but what really sticks out are the attitudes toward bullying and character defamation. In today's world of zero-tolerance and lawsuits, particularly as they pertain to public forums like Facebook, that aspect of the novel needs careful handling by conscientious adults who will talk to their tweens about what constitutes appropriate behavior.
The Details
- Age Range: 8 - 12 years
- Grade Level: 3 - 7
- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Yearling (May 8, 2001)
- ISBN-10: 0440416795
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