jcpdiesel21 's review for:

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

4.0

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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.