Harriet the Spy

I've decided to do an occasional series on the books that moved me throughout my life. Since I was an early and voracious reader, it makes sense to start with the books I recall from my childhood. Harriet the Spy stands out the most, so that's where I'll start.

I first read Harriet the Spy when I was six years old. I was in love immediately. I read the sequels (even Sport). I wrote book reports on it in every grade from second to fifth.

But most of all, I wanted to be Harriet.

It started innocently, I asked for a small notebook to carry with me everywhere I went. I think I still have one. It's more of a collection of three to four sentence essays on my life. The others had actual observations in them. I learned from Harriet's mistakes, I kept my thoughts well hidden at all times.

As I got braver, I started to listen in when the kids next door were getting yelled at. I would creep around the house peering into the windows of the old lady on the other side of us. When I was left alone to prowl the block (I wasn't allowed to cross the street), I would write down things I discovered people doing. I would make up life stories for the people who failed to do anything interesting.

I never stopped observing people, I just stopped writing it all down. It was much safer that way.