Welsch, otherwise known as Harriet the Spy is an unusual but intelligent sixth-grader. She wears a yellow slicker, carries a notebook and pencil, and spies on people. She jots down comments in her notebook about those she observes. Unfortunately, her friends discover her notebook and shun her. Harriet then travels the long road from isolation to bittersweet revenge to redemption. There are three aspects of narration. One of them is the third person narration. The narrator frequently enters into her mind. There is also the first person narration when Harriet writes into her spy book. Thus, Harriet is the focaliser for both narrations. They provide us with different perspectives on her character and so help us to understand and respond better to Harriet. We also witness her bildungsroman. Hence, we feel that she is not a totally unlikeable child as she has redeeming qualities. This is a clever text as we are invited to fill in the gaps and this is done through the narration.
The third person narration helps us to understand Harriet better and to sympathise with her due to her family background. Harriet lives in New York's Upper East Side and is materially secure. The Welsches have a cook, and Ole Golly, the nanny. However, her parents neglect her. Her mother is busy with her social life where as her father is preoccupied with his business. Only Ole Golly takes good care of her. Even when Golly is around, Harriet sticks to her routines like " Everyday at three-forty she had cake and milk. Harriet loved doing everything every day in the same way"(page 35). She only eats tomato sandwiches(page 25). These can be signs of her insecurity. Routines give comfort to a neglected child. It shows that even though she has a nurse, she still needs her parents. However, Golly's departure dooms Harriet to a world either actually hostile, or so perceived by Harriet. Thus, we sympathise with Harriet and can understand that she is mean and insensitive to others because she lacks parental love and guidance.
