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Harriet the spy is back! In 1964 Louise
Fitzhugh introduced the world to Harriet M. Welsch, girl spy, when
author Helen Ericson was only 9 years old. Ericson was thrilled
when, as an adult, she received permission from the estate of Louise
Fitzhugh to write a companion to the "Harriet the Spy" books. In
"Harriet Spies Again," Harriet is reunited with her old cohorts, Ole
Golly and Sport, as well as a new character.
The story begins in the summer before
Harriet’s seventh-grade year. Her parents announce that they will be
spending three months in Paris for her father’s work. Harriet is a
little upset until her mother tells her the good news that her
beloved former nanny, Catherine Golly Waldenstein, affectionately
known as Ole Golly by Harriet, will be returning from Montreal to
take care of her while her parents are away. There is one
stipulation to Ole Golly’s return, and that is that there be no
mention of her husband, George Waldenstein.
Harriet notices a difference in her
former nanny almost immediately. Ole Golly seems distant, there is a
sadness about her, and she uncharacteristically takes a lot of naps.
Harriet assumes that the change in her old friend must be due to her
unfortunate marriage problems. She is sure that Ole Golly will feel
better now that she is back with taking care of her.
Harriet has other things to think about
now, like helping her friend Sport adjust to a new school and
finding out what goes on across the street at the home and offices
of the Drs. Feigenbaum. Dr. Morris Feigenbaum is a psychiatrist, and
Dr. Barbara Feigenbaum is in obstetrics and gynecology. It is Dr.
Morris Feigenbaum’s patients that most intrigue Harriet.
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One day as Harriet is eavesdropping —
which everyone knows is common behavior for spies — on a phone
conversation that Ole Golly is having with Harriet’s mother, she is
sure that she hears Ole Golly refer to herself as innocent. That is
all it takes for Harriet; she decides that she will do whatever it
takes to prove that Ole Golly is innocent. Harriet decides that she
must have accidentally killed her husband, George Waldenstein, and
Harriet must prove that it was an accident.
Harriet starts a spy notebook on Ole
Golly. She records everything she says that may help her case and
everywhere she goes. The most unusual activity she observes is that
Ole Golly has started going to the house across the street and
carrying a small sack with her, but she doesn’t return with it.
Harriet and Sport decide that it must be some kind of a drop that
Ole Golly is being blackmailed into carrying out.
It makes sense to Harriet that Ole
Golly may need the help of Dr. Morris Feigenbaum because of the
unfortunate events of her husband’s death, but it never occurs to
her that she may be seeing Dr. Barbara Feigenbaum.
The story reaches a climax during a
memorable Thanksgiving meal with startling revelations, new
friendships and blissful reunions. This is a wonderfully humorous
book, and fans of the old Harriet will not be disappointed. This
book is recommended for age 10 and up.
For more
information about this book and others, please visit the library at
725 Pekin St. or call (217) 732-5732. Readers can also check out
Louise Fitzhugh’s "Harriet the Spy" and "Sport"
at the library.
[Linda
Harmon, Lincoln Public Library District]
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