[.ca] Harriet Spies Again (ISBN 0385327862)

From Amazon.com:
Purists may shudder, but Harriet the Spy is back--even though her original creator, Louise Fitzhugh, is long gone. Author Helen Ericson has developed an intriguing new episode in Harriet's life for her latest fans, many of whom were introduced to Harriet the Spy--the book--only after the movie. When Harriet's former nurse, Ole Golly (who went off to live in Montreal last year after getting married to Mr. George Waldenstein), temporarily returns to her old post in the Welsch household, Harriet is deliriously happy. Unfortunately, Ole Golly is not acting like her brisk, no-nonsense self at all, and Harriet has been instructed to "expunge" the husband from her memory. What's up? This looks like a job for our girl sleuth extraordinaire! Side plots involving Harriet's friend Sport's impending puberty and a mysterious new neighbor keep things moving along at a rapid pace, but there's no denying it: it's just not the same. Ericson captures much of Harriet's essence, but she seems to be trying too hard. And the denouement (fairly easy to figure out early on) is downright odd. Still, for those who are hungering for more Harriet, this taste serves as a nice little snack. (Ages 10 to 14) --Emilie Coulter

Ole Golly returns!:
I have been a Harriet the Spy fan for 30 years, however, I never enjoyed the sequels (The Long Secret and Sport) as they did not answer my questions surrounding Ole Golly's departure and my curiosity of her new life. Finally, my questions have been answered. I found Helen Ericson's "companion" book to be a delightful read. Ole Golly returns and we finally get a glimpse of life "ever after" for Ole Golly and Harriet. Harriett is a little older, a little wiser, but still the same old spying Harriet that I remember. Fans of Harriett who always wondered what became of Ole Golly will appriciate Ericson's effort to tie up the loose ends. Fans who remember Louis Fitzhugh's sequels may be a bit confused, as the story line blurs Fitzhugh's original timeline of the three Harriet books.

Average Sequel to An Excellent Series:
There is one major problem with this book: its timeline is off. Readers may recall that Louise Fitzhugh, the original creator of "Harriet the Spy," wrote three books in this series: "Harriet the Spy," "The Long Secret," and "Sport." Following is a brief overview of the timeline of each. "Harriet the Spy" takes place when Harriet, Sport et al. are in sixth grade. It ends at some point during the sixth grade year. "The Long Secret" takes place the summer after sixth grade, when Harriet gets to know Beth Ellen really well during their summer vacation. "Sport" starts just prior to their seventh grade year and continues until mid-school-year. Here is where the real problem lies. Sport has to go to a new school for seventh grade because their old school is all-girls from that point on. In the book "Sport," he is attending his new school and has a few good friends there. Also in "Sport," his divorced father finds a girlfriend, Kate. By the end of the book they are married and Kate moves into the apartment with Sport and his dad. Then we pick up "Harriet Spies Again" which otherwise is a reasonable book to succeed to this series. This book also starts out just before seventh grade - because Harriet and Sport are discussing what his new school will be like - yet his father has already married Kate. Also, after the seventh-grade school year starts, Harriet and Sport have a conversation about his school and he complains that he has no friends there. If the author of this book had taken care to blend this story line with the lines of Fitzhugh's original works, this would have gotten probably four stars. But I spent so much time wrangling with this timeline in my head that I often found myself having to reread parts of this book because my mind had wandered. Ericson catches the tone of Harriet rather well, and the reappearance of Ole Golly provides a very intriguing mystery for Harriet and Sport to solve. However, the subplot of the girl who lives across the street is exceedingly transparent (if you don't pick up on her scheming right away, you are probably under the recommended reading age for this book). I recommend this as a library read or for very dedicated fans of Harriet (as I am) who would like a little more story about her.

Will the real Harriet please expose this imposter?:
In a concept fraught with peril, this sequel to Harriet the Spy (authorized by the estate of the late Louise Fitzhugh, but why??), has some redeeming details, such as the increased role of the prickly Cook. Unfortunately, the plot has turned Harriet into an obtuse narcissist. Instead of writing and observing, now she makes wild ridiculous speculations and spends her time, not on her notebook, but on a timeline of her life. Janie has disappeared in order to introduce a mysterious new girl across the street, though this intriguing character isn_t developed. Newer readers are likely to be more entertained than die-hard Harriet fans, who are apt to be appalled at this caricature of our beloved heroine.

I was pleasantly surprised:
From the time I was 9 years old, Harriet the Spy has been one of my all-time favorite novels. Even as a 35-year-old, I enjoy re-reading it occasionally. When I heard about Harriet Spies Again I was dubious, and even moreso after reading the other customer reviews. However, since I work in a library and try to read a broad range of books, I decided to give it a try. Surprisingly, I was really drawn into the story and I, for one, was surprised by at least part of the ending. Harriet is a more pleasant character, and I like her relationship with her parents and the cook better in this novel. I also liked the introduction of the girl who lives across the street. I also liked this book because I'm always fascinated by characters' lives after a book ends. Sometimes when I can't sleep at night I make up new adventures for my favorite book characters. For someone like me, this book was a lot of fun. My daughter, who is almost 11, actually liked it better than Harriet the Spy (heresy in my own mind, but I can accept her opinion). She said that, to her, it made more sense. At any rate, I'd advise anyone who loved Harriet the Spy to give this book a try and to go into it with an open mind. There will never be a book quite like the original, but in my opinion this is a worthy successor.

Harriet gets another life:
I had no idea that Harriet the Spy had a sequel in this book written by keen fan Helen Ericson. She has Fitzhugh's style down pretty well, but alas, there is no substitue for character and plot development. There are simply too many unlikely events to make this story very believable, unlike all the original Fitzhugh books featuring Harriet, Janie, Sport and the rest. These characters come alive, as written by Fitzhugh, through ordinary actions made special through great characterisation. If Helen Ericson continues to write about Harriet, I hope she spends more time around kids to hear what they are saying rather than thinking up odd plot devices.