Well I read this story around the same time I read "Harrie the spy", because it was a 2 stories in 1 book. My mum read this book to me when I was younger and then I read by myself a bit later, but this book had a big influence on me and I loved the whole idea of Harriet's "Spy routes" and it inspired me to start writing my own journal, which I continue to do until this day. Now I can't remember to much about this book, as I was quite young but I do remember that I really enjoyed the story and Harriet's character and I can still remember certain bits about it. I should definitely read it again sometime when I'm older and see if it speaks to me in a different way and maybe bring back some memories. Thumbs up from me and I'd definitely recommend.

I feel a certain loyalty to Harriet, since the original Harriet the Spy was one of my favorite books as a kid. I had my doubts about the two sequels, each written by different authors after Louis Fitzhugh's too-soon death, but both did a fairly good job of staying true to the spirit of Harriet.

Harriet Spies Again feels a little empty, as there is very little spying, note taking or interaction with Harriet's friends, and the whole Ole Golly reunion falls kind of flat. Also, it may have been less obvious what was going on with Ole Golly to a younger reader, but to me it was pretty predictable.

The other sequel, Harriet the Spy Double Agent, is a bit better than Spies Again, because Harriet is more her old note-taking self and spends more time talking to Sport, who himself is going through his own turmoil what with his dad's new wife, being in love, and sprouting a few facial hairs. Double Agent also hints (maybe as a tribute to Fitzhugh?) at Harriet's budding sexuality as she discovers and ruminates about her own feelings about Sport, Ole Golly, and her new intriguing friend and spy partner, Annie Smith, who has created three names and personalities for herself and has a few secrets of her own.

Missing from both books is Fitzhugh's wry wit, but these sequels are worth a read if, as a now-grown adult fan, you can ignore that feeling that you're visiting a ghost. It's nice, but leaves you feeling a tiny bit empty.

a little boring

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!

I'm amazed that an author can pick up another author's story and continue it so well. I really liked the new character added, and, while I saw a lot of the twists coming, they were still fun to read. My only complaint about this book is that I wasn't sure what year it was. At times I thought it was still the 1960s, but other times it seemed to be at least 20 years later. I think that's an effect of what this new author was trying to do and it didn't really take away from the story, but it did distract me at times.

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.

Good

Excellent Addition To The Harriet The Spy Book

Harriet the Spy is one of my favorite literary characters. In this story Harriet's parents go to France for 3 months. Harriet received a wonderful surprise when her parents hire back Ole Golly to stay with her. Ole Golly is not herself so Harriet goes on a spying mission to find out.