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Harriet the Spy
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From: Megan Schliesman <Schliesman>
Date: Mon, 01 Jul 1996 15:59:00 -0600
I am one of those who read "Harriet the Spy" as a child and recognized myself in her; amazing when I consider how little Harriet and I had in common, at least from surface appearances. Harriet lived in New York while I was in a small midwest city. Harriet lived in a somewhat wealthy family. She even had a nurse! of all things. Even when it came down to the things we did, Harriet and I were different - at least she was certainly much braver and more adventuresome than I.
And yet, there are few books that I can look back upon from my childhood that I remember so vividly. Or rather, there are few characters who I remember so well and with whom I so immediately identified, and this is one of the things that I find remarkable about the book. The differences in our lives - even aspects of our personalities - didn't matter, because in Harriet, Louise Fitzhugh captured the sense of "apartness", separateness, that I remember feeling about myself, and that I think most children feel about themselves for one reason or another, and she articulated what is wonderful and what is awful about feeling that way.
When Harriet is left alone to her own devices (on her spy route) she is amazingly self-possessed. And why not? She gets to set the rules. Her own sense of who she is and what is important to her allows her to define those rules and to nourish and express her creativity. As a child, I loved the sense of independence and freedom that came with "accompanying" Harriet on her route. She was like a role model for self-possession. What a wonderful fantasy to partake in as a child reader.
But when Harriet must navigate personal interactions she is operating by rules she doesn't fully understand (they're not hers, after all) and so the territory is more difficult. Here is the other reality that children knoe - that it's difficult and painful feeling that no one understand's who you are, what you are doing, or why you feel the way you do.
What I find interesting - and empowering - about Harriet now - and what I probably responded to subconsiously as a child - is that her individuality ultimately was not a problem; in fact it made her stronger. Harriet never wishes she were like other kids. She revels in her own sense of self (perhaps it's what many adults in the 1960s found so disconcerting and unappealing about her). This didn't mean it was alright for Harriet to be isolated from her friends, but the message comes through loud and clear that Harriet is ok. She's observant and creative and quirky, and that's alright. In fact, it's pretty neat! (A little 1970's speak; going back to the time when I first read "Harriet the Spy.")
Megan Schliesman Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education UW-Madison schliesman at mail.soemadison.wisc.edu
Received on Mon 01 Jul 1996 04:59:00 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 01 Jul 1996 15:59:00 -0600
I am one of those who read "Harriet the Spy" as a child and recognized myself in her; amazing when I consider how little Harriet and I had in common, at least from surface appearances. Harriet lived in New York while I was in a small midwest city. Harriet lived in a somewhat wealthy family. She even had a nurse! of all things. Even when it came down to the things we did, Harriet and I were different - at least she was certainly much braver and more adventuresome than I.
And yet, there are few books that I can look back upon from my childhood that I remember so vividly. Or rather, there are few characters who I remember so well and with whom I so immediately identified, and this is one of the things that I find remarkable about the book. The differences in our lives - even aspects of our personalities - didn't matter, because in Harriet, Louise Fitzhugh captured the sense of "apartness", separateness, that I remember feeling about myself, and that I think most children feel about themselves for one reason or another, and she articulated what is wonderful and what is awful about feeling that way.
When Harriet is left alone to her own devices (on her spy route) she is amazingly self-possessed. And why not? She gets to set the rules. Her own sense of who she is and what is important to her allows her to define those rules and to nourish and express her creativity. As a child, I loved the sense of independence and freedom that came with "accompanying" Harriet on her route. She was like a role model for self-possession. What a wonderful fantasy to partake in as a child reader.
But when Harriet must navigate personal interactions she is operating by rules she doesn't fully understand (they're not hers, after all) and so the territory is more difficult. Here is the other reality that children knoe - that it's difficult and painful feeling that no one understand's who you are, what you are doing, or why you feel the way you do.
What I find interesting - and empowering - about Harriet now - and what I probably responded to subconsiously as a child - is that her individuality ultimately was not a problem; in fact it made her stronger. Harriet never wishes she were like other kids. She revels in her own sense of self (perhaps it's what many adults in the 1960s found so disconcerting and unappealing about her). This didn't mean it was alright for Harriet to be isolated from her friends, but the message comes through loud and clear that Harriet is ok. She's observant and creative and quirky, and that's alright. In fact, it's pretty neat! (A little 1970's speak; going back to the time when I first read "Harriet the Spy.")
Megan Schliesman Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education UW-Madison schliesman at mail.soemadison.wisc.edu
Received on Mon 01 Jul 1996 04:59:00 PM CDT
