More frank and interesting than Harriet the Spy (first in the series). I didn't grow up reading this, or even knowing that Harriet the Spy was a series! I think I would've loved this as a kid, and I loved it as an adult. The action is a bit more fast-paced than the first book, with more storylines to explore. I especially loved that Fitzhugh included such frank discussions of believing in God and menstruation.

This is a book from a memory shelf that won't stay, as it will probably remain available in libraries as a classic. It's always interesting returning to a childhood favorite as an adult, because the book is both strange and familiar. Harriet the Spy was a favorite that I may have to revisit after reading the sequel, which was never as good to me a s a child. But I am impressed with the sophistication of the novel as an adult as Harriet pries into the identity of the anonymous note dropper in an East Coast vacation town. Harriet and Beth Ellen aren't best buddies, except when they are summering together. Given how shy Beth Ellen, often called Mouse, the unbridled Harriet often underestimates her, just as she underestimates herself. Grandmother Hansen is an unexpected hero, despite her bizarre explanation of menstruation.
The book explores Harriet's curiosity and her inadvertent cruelty, checked surprisingly enough, by the scientific Janie, who makes a brief appearance. Most of the adults are cartoonish, upper class socialites driving irresponsibly and verbally jousting. Harriet's parents are aware of the ironies and are very patient with Harriet's chronic probing, even when it is focused on religion. The topic comes up because of the Biblical nature of the quotes and the association with the working class Jessie Mae and her family. Jessie Mae wants to be a preacher and has a glade where she practices. It leads Harriet to investigate her, but ends up challenging Harriet's spiritual potentials. Like so much of life the mysteries frustrate, and she recognizes that somethings require waiting for the capacity. Fitzhugh's depiction of developmental differences is precious and sometimes hilarious.
My favorite line in the book "Shy people are angry people."
Followed up by "You know, ... it's important to be a lady, but not if you lose yourself in the process."

Wonderful sequel to Harriet the Spy. Beth Ellen aka "Mouse," and Harriet are summering in the Hamptons, where they meet a colorful family from Mississippi and befriend the daughter. Harriet is obsessed with finding out who is leaving pointed notes for the townspeople. Notes that identify and judge each person's deepest flaw. In this sequel, Harriet is a more sympathetic and nuanced character than in the original. This is a worthy companion to the first book.

I read this book once as a child and hated it. After re-reading a series of essays about Harriet the Spy, I decided to give this one another chance. So glad I did. It is incredibly sophisticated for a children's book. I still love the character of Harriet and she remains my favourite part of the story. But there is a lot here about families, religion and relationships. The scene where they talk about menstruation was priceless. The book is actually quite witty.


Recommended.

Lucy Longstocking review http://www.wcl.govt.nz/blogs/kids/ind...

Lots of people have read Harriet the Spy and loved it, but not so many know about the two follow up books. Harriet returns in The Long Secret, which is a wonderful summer holiday story. The long Secret begins with a nasty (but sort-of funny) secret note and Harriet’s burning desire to find out who sent it. She enlists her mousy friend Beth Allen to reluctantly help her, and they have lots of odd encounters along the way. I like the peculiar characters – like the family who are trying to get rich making toe medicine (EW), and Bunny (COOL NAME) the pyjama-wearing piano player. The Long Secret is two books in one really: on one hand it is a riveting mystery that involves a funny holiday township, but on the other hand it is a story about feeling left out and friendship and growing up and stuff. (That leaves no hands to hold biscuits, but it’s a summer book so maybe you could just slurp a milkshake instead?).

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is sick of children’s stories that are all sweet and fluffy and nice. Louise Fitzhugh died at a young age and it’s a real shame because she is one of the few authors that seems to “get” kids. She doesn’t write about kids the way adults like to see kids: boring, stupid and polite – she writes about kids the way kids are: interesting, thoughtful and really cool.

When I first read this, I was disappointed by the new angle on Harriet. I'd built her up as rather a hero and had overlooked her more grating aspects. Too, I think the book made me uncomfortable because though Harriet impressed me, Beth Ellen is probably more who I am, too.

Age brings perspective. This really was quite the book.

What I love about this book is the touching sense of the desperate boredom of adolescence that Louise Fitzhugh evokes without ever directly addressing the issue. And Harriet M. Welsch has always been a hero to me.

I don't know what to rate this book that would be ambiguous enough... So I'm going with a four which is what I would rate it if it were any other book.
The first in the series I knew as a child, while it have the same chaotically disturbingness, Ole Golly is there. And Ole Golly understands what's going on, giving a sense of control, even when she leaves you feel that a part of Harriet will somehow learn to be Ole Golly without her being there. In this book that's not here at all. The closest we get is Harriet's mother and Beth Ellen's grandmother, and they're both so normal, they help, but not with the dastardly parts of these children which Ole Golly saw. I remember this unrestrained and disturbing nature of a child who sees enough to not get what the world is whatsoever, the distinct ideas that sprout like stickyness with no basis in reality. It's all so fun, and really scary. The whole book was written like someone who remembers this too. I don't think even I get this review.
I was recommended this book by Lemony Snicket, which is how I was going to start this review, but after reading it, thats just weird Mr Snicket. How is this book better than the first one? I ask you. Nothing can beat the sweet craziness of Harriet the spy, not this book of Harriet the crazy shouting and very bad friend except for when she holds Beth Ellen's hand when she needed it the most. Poor Beth Ellen, I just wanted to hug her.
This book has a lot of religion and religious ideas in it, which feels off-putting, and a cracker of a mystery that I couldn't solve, and find it hard to believe that Harriet astutely solved just by watching the expression on someone's face. The solution also feels a bit shoehorned, and the red herrings were laid on thick, which accounts for all the religion.

Childhood favorite

Louise makes her characters come alive. Harriet is older in this book. She is on summer vacation along with her friend Beth Ellen. Someone is secretly leaving rather pointed quotes around town. Of course Harriet has to find out who is doing this

I think that I may have enjoyed this book if I had read it after reading Harriet the Spy as a child. Reading it now I felt distant from the characters, as if I've lost the part of me that understood what it was like to be a kid. I think what is more likely is how different Harriet and Beth Ellen's lives are from mine. As a kid I might have connected with them despite the different time period and experiences, but the whole time I read it I felt disconnected. Maybe it isn't a great book or good writing, and maybe a book from Beth Ellen's perspective makes Harriet seem less likable which rubbed me the wrong way. I couldn't quite tell why I didn't like this book, but it just wasn't enjoyable.

Doesn't have the same distinctive voice as Harriet the Spy, but it was fun to revisit these characters, and to see Harriet out of her depth. The scene with everyone in the Shark's Tooth Inn was hilarious.

The publisher's description of this book is quite misleading. It has very little to do with solving a mystery, or Harriet the Spy. Harriet's notebook is conspicuously absent from most of the book.

Instead, this is Beth Ellen's story, in which she spends time with her mother who had been absent from her life since she was 5. Beth Ellen needs to figure out whether she likes her or not. She also makes some decisions on what kind of person she wants to be, and what direction her life might take. It is poignant and funny, though perhaps not as much as the first Harriet novel, and well worth reading.

Uptight people take note, the book includes a scene with 12 year olds discussing their menstruation.