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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Entertaining, yet flawed. Upon a revisit, I remembered most of the basic plot, but was surprised by several of the details. Harriet isn't a particularly likable protagonist, and while I like that writing is so integral to her life, she clearly has much to learn about it as she matures and hones her craft. Many of the observations that Harriet makes in her notebook are petty and mean-spirited, and it is somewhat of a relief when her comeuppance comes at the hands of her wronged classmates. The resolution feels a little too easy, and Harriet honestly doesn't learn a whole lot in the end, which is disappointing. The subtext of this book is incredibly eye-opening, as it has a lot to say about the lives of wealthy, privileged city kids.
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was okay, but the main character had little growth. Harriet is an observer, but she has very little empathy so mostly focus on e negatives of the people around her. It got tiring for me to hear the meanness.
I read this book for the first time as an adult for my book club. We read a children's book in December to save time during a busy month. I'm pretty sure the 11 year old protagonist Harriet is a child sociopath. She's an interesting character but it's an unusual approach to a children's book. Even in the end, she doesn't seem to have learned her lesson since she is still invading people's privacy and humiliating them without pause for their feelings.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
A quirky story about a quirky little girl who, in then end, owns up to mistakes and still stays true to who she is. I can see why it's such a classic.
