264 Discussion- Harriet the Spy

These titles were published for children well before the tween label existed.  How are these tween titles?  Use the lecture and developmental assets as well as specific details from the titles to respond to this prompt.

I read Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. This book is about a little girl who wants to know more about the world around her. She has been privileged by having a cook and nanny. She is not sure how other people live. Harriet strives to know about everything. Her nanny, Ole Golly says to her "There is as many ways to live as there are people on the earth and I shouldn't go around with blinders but should see every way I can. Then Ill know what way I want to live and not just live like my family" (Fitzhugh, 21). Harriet lives by this. 

The exploration that Harriet partakes in is very much aligned with what is going on with her developmentally at 11 and 12. This would be aimed at tweens because they are going through the same changes. They are not small children anymore, but there is so much to learn. Harriet is starting to spread her wings by learning everyone is different. She spends time at her friend Sport's house and find out his family dynamic is different. She had never thought about rich and poor before. Tweens are still reliant on their parents and role models, but starting to care more about their friends and their opinions. As stated in the article 40 Developmental Assets, when children in middle childhood feel safe, they are able to explore more. They are beginning to want to solve problems on their own and their parents are seen less as idols and more as older people.