I liked that she fishes old clothes out of the garbage after her mom throws them away. She’s especially appealing to a certain kind of independent-minded girl, tomboys and baby dykes, and I loved Harriet, even if I couldn’t put my finger on those reasons why. Harriet is a touchstone for kids who were different: she fights with her parents, gets into trouble at school, and spies on neighbors in their own homes. I can’t say that about any other book I’ve ever had. This is a book that I’ve bought for others, read aloud to little kids, had to buy again and again because a loan to someone else became permanent. It never disappoints and is always laugh-out-loud funny. I’ve read the book dozens of times, and continue to pick it up every once in a while, even now. Writing Harriet was her biggest success, and that’s what I really want to talk about anyway. Fitzhugh was queer, though not too much is known about her, and she died at the young age of 46. Today we honor Louise Fitzhugh, creator of Harriet the Spy. We enter our second week of Pride Month, and continue celebrating a queer person or moment every day with a new painting.
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