Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, Collins Modern Classics, ISBN 0007155026
REVIEWED BY MATILDA, 9, WA
Matilda borrowed a copy of this book from her local library.
Harriet is 11 and she likes to know everything about people, so she watches them without them knowing (and writes all about them in her notebook). Her best friends are Sport (whose name is really Simon) and Janie.
One day Harriet is playing chasey with her classmates — they run around knocking books out of each other’s arms. One of her books is her notebook and a classmate picks it up and starts reading it. (Harriet hasn’t only written good things. This is a disaster.)
There were some interesting old-fashioned things in this book, like a dumbwaiter.
I liked how Harriet never gives up. Some of the book was funny, like the school play and the way Harriet’s dad talked (and sometimes how Harriet copies him) and when her dad joins Harriet in trying to act like an onion.
I like this book because Harriet wasn’t like anyone else I’ve met.
People aged 9 to 14 will like this book because it’s about kids at school, friendship and how writing mean things can break a friendship.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
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Matilda is one of our regular book reviewers. Her most recent review (if you don’t count this one) was of Alice-Miranda at the Palace. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!
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