Not just one of the finest children's books, also one of those children's books that adults get something out of too. Harriet is acerbic, a little neurotic, sharp as a tack, naive. The book has a slight bittersweet edge to it. Partly from the narrative, but partly from the realization that Harriet's New York is almost (if not completely) gone, forced out by gentrification gone wild. Hers was a more nuanced, more delightful New York, a New York to be a child in. A New York of family grocery stores, without a Starbucks or cupcake boutique to be seen.
Put it on the shelf next to "Stuart Little" and "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." Every generation and socioeconomic group has "its" New York. Harriet owns her piece of the city, all the way up to the sky.

Though there are references to a different time, the story still remains timeless. A true classic!

One of my favourite childhood books. I love the creativity and could always relate to Harriet, since she was always writing. Awesome plot and great ending, I would definitely recommend this book!

My eight-year-old daughter absolutely loved this book. I heard her laughing out loud while she was reading it, and she finished it in two days. Wonderful writing and character development! It was one of my own childhood favorites.

Eleven-year-old Harriet M. Welsch lives in New York City and aspires to be a writer. She enjoys the role of being a spy as she writes down everything she observes about her family, friends, and classmates. When her friends get their hands on her notebook and read the bluntly honest things she has written about them, Harriet realizes the difficulties of being a spy.

This book is another of my childhood favourites. After rereading it as an adult, I am glad to say that it held up pretty well. I still loved Harriet, even though this time there were definite times where I thought that she was acting like a spoiled brat. I now have more of an appreciation for the complexity of Harriet, who is a wonderfully complicated, honest, and interesting little girl. Bonus: The illustrations are fun and brought back memories of reading the book as a child.

I am Pretty sure I read this when I was a kid but memories of the 1996 movie have replaced my childhood reading of it. Reading again at 36 years old if found it wonderful. for a book written in 1964 it was amazing how many emotions it dealt with that real kids feel. Many other books of that era had not reached that point. that why
I think kids of today will not find it too dated. one issue that I have seen come up is that Harriet is not always a likeable person. that is true but I think that is what makes her more of a real a believable character.

I the love the essays that end this 50th anniversary edition!

One of the greatest literary characters of all time- so spunky, so misunderstood. Love it!

This book held iconic status in my childhood imagination, but when I re-read it not long ago I discovered how creepy it is. The children in the story seem to be struggling with outsized anxieties, which makes for disturbing reading.