Heidi  
Charming Classics
Johanna Spyri

HarperFestival
October 2001 

419p pbk $12.95

0-694-01453-2         

First published in 1880

Heidi is a wonderful, dreamy tale of a young girl and her life on her mountainside home. At the end of almost every chapter, there is something, which is left up in the air, these moments often made me continue reading until I had nearly reached the end of the book.

Heidi is written in very descriptive language and the writing is somewhat dreamy and imaginative. The print in the book is a good size and the book was, therefore, easy to read. This book may be read alone, read aloud or even a read with a group.

This book is about a young girl called Heidi who is taken to live in the mountains with her grandfather when both her mother and her father die. Here, in the mountains, Heidi grows strong and happy until her aunt comes and takes her away to become a companion to a young girl who cannot walk. Heidi soon becomes home sick and withdrawn in her new city home where her health slowly deteriorates. Soon, she is taken back to her mountain home…

The only thing that I didn’t like about this book was the picture on the front cover of the current edition.

Overall, this book is a wonderful book, which explores many ideas, feelings and discoveries. I would recommend this book for ages 10 or up. I would give Heidi 9 or 9.5 out of 10. Heidi is a classic that incorporates many of our dreams

Esme, aged 13, Canberra, ACT