Harriet the Spy writes down what she really thinks about everyone in her notebook, and then the notebook gets read by the people she wrote about. The consequences are real and painful. Books in this family share that honesty-has-a-cost theme and the particular power of a child character who observes the world with ruthless accuracy.
Reach for this book when your child is struggling with the social consequences of being too blunt or when they feel like an outsider looking in on their peer group. It is a vital resource for children who use observation as a defense mechanism and need to understand the weight of their words. Harriet M. Welsch is an aspiring writer who keeps a secret notebook filled with brutally honest observations about her friends and neighbors. When her classmates find the book and read her private thoughts aloud, Harriet must navigate total social isolation and learn the difference between being right and being kind. This classic explores the messy intersection of honesty, privacy, and empathy. It is perfectly suited for middle grade readers who are beginning to navigate the complex social hierarchies of school and the realization that their perspective is not the only one that matters.
