Heidi, by Johanna Spyri

Heidi by Johanna Spyri is a story set in the Swiss Alps near Frankfurt, Germany in the 1800s. Five-year-old orphan named Heidi has been living with her Aunt Dete, but when Dete is offered a job in a new city, she can no longer care for Heidi, so she takes Heidi to live with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps. The only problem is that Heidi’s grandfather, whom everyone calls Alm-Uncle, is known to be a crabby old man who isolates himself from everybody else. However, Heidi is always joyful and energetic and reminds Alm-Uncle of his long-lost son, Heidi’s father, so Heidi quickly wins him over. Heidi loves her life in the Alps and spends most of her time with Peter, the local goat-herd, and the goats up in the mountains. Then when Dete’s new employers need a companion for Clara, the Boss’s handicapped daughter, Dete takes Heidi away from Alm-Uncle and away from the Alps. Readers will need to find out for themselves what it will take to reunite Heidi and her beloved grandfather!

I liked reading Heidi because although the older language was challenging, I enjoyed the descriptions of Heidi’s life with her grandfather. Heidi’s enthusiasm for sleeping in a loft on fresh hay, as well as for the fresh goat’s milk and cheese toast made me curious about what it would be like to live in the Alps. Also, I enjoyed when Heidi makes friends with the goats and stops them from getting in trouble. I was amazed by Heidi’s constant positive attitude, especially for such a young girl. Heidi isn’t afraid of Uncle and even melts his heart while almost everyone in the village is scared of him. I would recommend this book to kids of all ages because it is a fun book and a classic which people do not read as much.

Reviewed by Hope C., Grade 6

Glendale Library