Just Harriet - by Elana K Arnold

Book 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 Quotes

Praise for THE HOUSE THAT WASN'T THERE: "Told through alternating perspectives that offer clearly rendered details, this compassionate novel gives a unique twist to familiar situations--feeling lonely, adjusting to new environments, forging new bonds--while inviting readers to open their imaginations to all sorts of wonderful possibilities."
- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Praise for THE HOUSE THAT WASN'T THERE: ""The author enriches her sparely told story with hints of magic, song lyrics, good choices that key sudden sea changes in several relationships, and the small background details that make settings and backstories seem real. A low-key marvel rich in surprises, small fuzzy creatures, and friendships old and new." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Will undoubtedly draw comparisons to the titular character in Beverly Cleary's Ramona series. An engaging series opener about the power of truth to moor and free even the sulkiest of souls." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"With its short chapters, lively occasional illustrations by Ho (Eyes That Kiss in the Corners), and energetic feuds between Harriet's cat and her grandmother's beloved basset hound, this series opener is a winner." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A gentle, slow-moving summer adventure that's big on character growth." - School Library Journal
"The versatile Elana K. Arnold, author of the "A Boy Called Bat" trilogy, offers a memorable portrait of a child navigating changes in her life in this charming illustrated mystery." - Buffalo News