katymul 's review for:

Just Harriet by Elana K. Arnold

4.75

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I love books where I just want to give every character a big hug. Elana K. Arnold's work is complex as ever -- doubling back on itself in really clever ways. She has such a talent for half-hiding truths from her readers and revealing all the pieces in the most charming of ways. This book is a gentle, loving take on a family in a challenging situation. Harriet, a charming narrator, slowly comes to realize and appreciate how gently every adult is handling her, despite having to make decisions that are hard on her. It's a wonderful look at empathy, and a lovely world to spend some time inside.