I was BETRAYED by my own habit of never reading the covers or titles of books and therefore did not realise this was by??? a DIFFERENT AUTHOR???? my own feelings aside this was actually pretty good but the BETRAYAL knocks it down a star.

Just when I'd thought Harriet was gone forever, with the passing of Louise Fitzhugh, she's back again, Ole Golly mysterious as ever in her ever growing tweed coat. Harriet finds the most delightful secret ever. While a mid-grade novel, a must read for all writers or writing aspirants. You'll not be disappointed. Helen Ericson, has kept Harriet's, Sport's, and of course, Ole Golly's true voices.”

Harriet the Spy being one of my childhood favorites, I was doubtful that this companion book (written by a different author) could be anywhere near as good as the original. But she nails it! Helen Ericsson channels Louise Fitzhugh beautifully in this delightfully funny and thoughtful book.

I have a strong love for Harriet M. (For Middle) Welsh. She has quickly become one of my favorite literary characters. Not to mention Roserita was a STUPENDOUS addition to the books. She balances Harriet very well and I LOVE HER. And I loved the return of Ole Golly. And Cook. And Sport. Basically everyone in this book was so much fun. Harriet was also creating a timeline of her life and it was fun seeing her reflect on “the big moments”.

Everyone needs these in their life (also am I the only one who wants an adult Harriet the Spy novel??)

A very fun sequel to Harriet the Spy! Personally I like the first book better, but Harriet Spies Again is a very good book, too, with a fantastic title.

never to spy

Fun, enjoyable, and not quite the same. I can understand why it won an Edgar for kid's lit, but I really missed the stories from Harriet's spy route and wanted to hear more about what she had discovered on her own.
At least she hadn't outgrown tomato sandwiches!

I did enjoy Harriet's foray into religion and the comments from Cook at Thanksgiving about having a "normal" life.

On to Sport and The Long Secret!

Let's just say this crapped all over my childhood. Regardless of good intent, Harriet is not Harriet and Ole Golly is not Ole Golly and this is a farce. Harriet does not beg for hugs or talk about wanting to be a spy. She IS a spy. Ole Golly doesn't *discuss* greeting card sentiment. It is beneath her. She discusses literature, and without calling attention to it. Mr. Waldenstein would NEVER have consistently lied and gambled. Harriet would not have gotten dumber as she got older. Come on, people.

If you liked this book, you clearly did not read the original. You're entitled to your opinion, but I'm sorry, you are wrong.

I loved this series growing up. I haven't seen the movie, didn't really want to in case they ruined my perception of Harriet and Sport!

This book is about Harriet spying on her nanny Ole Golly when she returns after being married. Harriet wonders why she has returned without her husband, so she decides to get more information on this mystery. Unexpectedly, everything she has thought, is turned around in a huge surprise.

With the approval of Louise Fitzhugh's (author of "Harriet the Spy") estate, Ericson revisits the life of Harriet M. Welsch and the executors' trust was well placed. An author's note reports that Ericson became a fan when this self-styled young spy first appeared in 1964, and her affection for the feisty character comes through in this new misadventure.

When Harriet's parents leave Manhattan to spend three months in Paris, her former nanny, Ole Golly, returns from Montreal (where she had moved with her new husband) to stay with our favorite spy. Though Harriet's mother warns her that Ole Golly has asked that no one mention her husband's name, the curious sleuth sets out to discover what transpired in Montreal.

Meanwhile, another mystery percolates in the townhouse across the street, where husband-and-wife doctors appear to be keeping a girl captive. As Harriet doggedly attempts to crack these cases, her processing of misinformation makes for some comical scenarios.

While it is admittedly true that Ericson has a decent grasp of Harriet's personality, lovers of the classic book are betrayed by how long Harriet remains clueless about Ole Golly's "condition". It seems that Ericson's version is that of a dumbed down Harriet. More importantly, instead of writing and observing, now she makes wild ridiculous speculations and spends her time, not on her notebook, but on a time line of her life which just bogs down the flow of the story.


Book Details:

Title Harriet Spies Again
Author Helen Ericson
Reviewed By Purplycookie

I'm shocked but I really liked 'Harriet Spies Again.' Shocked because it's an ersatz 'Harriet' created in 2002, nearly 40 years after the original and over 30 years after Louise Fitzhugh's death. A student of mine had to pick a 'classic' to read, defined as being over 25 years old and still in print, and this somehow slipped under the wire. I was prepared for disappointment, but Helen Ericson really captures the spirit and flavor of 'Harriet the Spy," and produces a work just as charming as it is. The unique Sport, Old Golly and Cook return (Old Golly in mysterious and surprising fashion), and there's a new character who goes under a number of different aliases, my favorite of which was Yolanda Montezuma. Great fun.