Early Reader Review: Just Harriet by Elena Arnold

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Just Harriet by Elena Arnold
Publisher: Walden Pond Books
Publication Date:  February 1, 2022

 

Format: Paperback ARC


Rating: 

Goodreads Synopsis: 

From the award-winning author of A Boy Called Bat comes a new young middle grade series in the tradition of Ramona and Clementine, starring an unforgettable girl named Harriet.

There are a few things you should know about Harriet Wermer:

She just finished third grade. She has a perfect cat named Matzo Ball. She doesn't always tell the truth. She is very happy to be spending summer vacation away from home and her mom and dad and all the wonderful things she had been planning all year.Okay, maybe that last one isn't entirely the truth.

Of course, there's nothing Harriet doesn't like about Marble Island, the small island off the coast of California where her nanu runs a cozy little bed and breakfast. And nobody doesn't love Moneypenny, Nanu's old basset hound. But Harriet doesn't like the fact that Dad made this decision without even asking her.

When Harriet arrives on Marble Island, however, she discovers that it's full of surprises, and even a mystery. One that seems to involve her Dad, back when he was a young boy living on Marble Island. One that Harriet is absolutely going to solve. And that's the truth.

Review: 

Harriet is having a rough summer, things are changing and she does not like change. The big changes include a baby on the way, a very pregnant mother, and a month that she now has to spend with her grandmother. 

This was a pretty light and quick read that I think that young readers will enjoy. There wasn't really a conflict to follow, it was more of a situation that Harriet was dealing with an the story felt a bit eh for me. It was cute in some ways though. 

Harriet is a fourth grader, and is our story-teller. She is upset about the whole situation and very moody about it. She also tells us that she often lies. As a main character, there were oftentimes I was upset with how she handled things and I found myself upset with her so it was hard to follow her emotions. 

I felt like this was an interesting way to talk about change and it could have really made that lesson a realy hard-hitting one, but the book kept it light and really only touched on Harriet's problems slightly as it pertained to the new a baby and her feelings of abandonment. 

Overall, I think that there were parts of this book that could have been done better BUT it is light, cute, and fun and I think that young readers will appreciate it and connect with Harriet better than I have.