Harriet the Spy
Harriet the Spy is a children's novel written and illustrated by Louise Fitzhugh that was published in 1964. It has been called "a milestone in children's literature" and a "classic". In the U.S. it ranked number 12 in The 50 Best Books for Kids and number 17 in The Top 100 Children's Novels on two lists generated in 2012.
Themes & atmosphere
What you might want to know about Harriet the Spy
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
Eleven-year-old Harriet wants to be a writer, so she keeps a notebook with sharp opinions about every adult and classmate on her spy route. Then she loses the notebook, and her sixth-grade life detonates.
Harriet the Spy was written by Louise Fitzhugh and published in 1964. It is widely considered one of the first realistic middle-grade novels and broke ground for its frank portrayal of an unsentimental child protagonist.
Yes. A 1996 film adaptation starring Michelle Trachtenberg was released by Nickelodeon Movies. There have also been more recent animated adaptations on Apple TV+.
Harriet the Spy is 298 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, Harriet the Spy takes most readers 4 to 6 hours to finish.
Harriet the Spy is a standalone novel by an unknown author, not part of a series.
Harriet the Spy is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.