Heidi

Normally I have a very high tolerance for old-fashioned stories featuring unrealistically saccharine children; I'm very fond of A Little Princess, The Five Little Peppers, and the like. I have to say, though, Heidi exceeded my limits. Part of it is that I have a distinct dislike for preachy characters; Heidi gets religion partway through the book (for no reason other than that someone tells her to do so), and for the rest of the story is prone to breaking out in lectures about how good God is and how one must never forget to pray. It isn't so frequent that I couldn't have overlooked it, but I didn't find the rest of the story charming enough to make up for it.

There's far too much telling rather than showing in the narration; aside from one cute interlude in the schoolroom, we are generally only informed that Heidi shakes up the Sesemann household and makes it more interesting and cheerful. Mostly what we are shown is Heidi moping around and bursting into tears because she's homesick for the Alps, and it's not terribly clear why most of the household seems to find her such a treasure. When she's in the Alps, she tends to be a bit of a broken record about how beautiful everything is or how she wants to do X to help Y/is going to do X to help Y/is so happy she got to do X to help Y; it gets extremely repetitive, even for a children's book.

The other characters weren't any more interesting; Heidi's friend Peter is a sullen little thing who rarely does anything aside from get violently jealous whenever Heidi pays attention to someone else (to the point that it's vaguely disturbing), and the grandmother apparently exists only to be an object of pity. Heidi's grandfather is supposed to be a grouchy old man melted by the sheer force of Heidi's charisma, but seeing as this transformation takes place more or less five minutes after they're introduced, it's not terribly convincing; even the infamous Little Lord Fauntleroy pulled it off more gracefully. The Sesemanns don't get enough dialogue to be very interesting as individuals, aside from Fraulein Rottenmeier, who is intended to be unlikeable. I did like Sebastian the butler, but then I also kept accidentally replacing him with Sebastian from Black Butler in my mind's eye - which was a terribly entertaining thought, of course, but had little to do with the story as written.

The plot is fairly meandering, and not enough really happens to compensate for the weak characters. (It did make me laugh once, though, when Heidi's Aunt Dete comes to the grandfather's hut in her floor-length, sweeping skirts and the narration points out that there are things on the floor of a goatherd's hut that do not belong in a dress.) The descriptions of the Alps were lovely, of course, and if all you're interested in is the scenery, go ahead. Otherwise, there are plenty of books about adorable, cheerful little girls spreading sweetness and light in their wake, and I'd choose a different one.… (more)

I was actually surprised at how much the kids really enjoyed this book. This story has a very simple charm although for me I will have to say the charm was tainted a little when I read that it was supposedly autobiographical. It just seems wrong to paint yourself as a saint. But as a fictional character Heidi is the epitome of sweetness, light and charity. Even the antagonists in the story are very mild. Everything about this story was a little saccharine but apparently the kids enjoy that because they begged for more. Oh and the goats, we loved the German names of the goats!… (more)

I loved this book as a child, but now... Heidi is a little bit over the top in her 'high on life in the mountains' approach. Also, there is the strange scene where Peter must learn to read and is 'encouraged' by rhymes that tell him he'll be beaten or shipped off to the Hottentots if he doesn't succeed! Still worth reading, but... just the tiniest bit psycho, IMHO.… (more)

How is it that I read this as a kid and never noticed the heavy-handed Christian proselytizing? It's treacly and pious and unrealistic in so many ways, and yet the parts where Heidi is trapped in the city, longing for her home on the mountain, are some of the truest, saddest chapters ever written. And the moments on the mountain with the goats are pure poetry. Ultimately the preaching weighs down the lyricism of the mountain parts for me.… (more)

recommended for: girls of all ages

I reread this story frequently as a girl. One of the most evocative and effectively descriptive books I’ve ever read. A wonderful story about a young girl who goes to live with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps. Loved the side story that takes place in town away from her grandfather as well. I always craved cheese and bread as I read the story, and there was nothing more satisfying than curling up with Heidi and some cheese & bread. When young, I didn’t understand that the goat cheese described in the book was different from the cow’s milk cheese I ate. (Now that I’m a long term vegan, I would no longer crave any animal procured cheese, but I think I’d still enjoy the story.) A worthy children’s classic.

The sequels: Heidi Grows Up and Heidi’s Children were written by a different author – the original author’s translator. I enjoyed them, but they were not as pleasurable to read as Heidi.… (more)

So, okay, Heidi's one of those characters that're excessively perfect, but the story is captivating nonetheless. Heidi's creative, and her fun in the Alps was fun to read about. What I remember perhaps the most about this book was that she learned to read after she discovered the value of reading- that the letters held words and stories.… (more)

I love this book. It is a beautiful piece of writing. I have always wished I could be like Heidi. She is a beautiful character with a beautiful personality. This book is about a young girl who is sent to live with her grandfather up at the top of a mountain. She is a simple girl who never complains and grows to love the mountain. Her love softens her grandfather and the other people with whom she comes in contact with throughout the book. She is a true example of a friend.… (more)

I was a little worried when I started reading this that because it is a childrens book it would be too far below me and I wouldn't enjoy it. But I never read it as a kid and I wanted to know what it was about so I gave it a try. It turned out to be totally enjoyable. Yes, it was a little young, but not to the point of making it boring. It was a little too preachy for my tastes, increasingly so as the story progressed, but overall it was fun.… (more)

Heidi lives with her grandpa in his little wooden house, high up in the mountaines of Switzerland.
One day her aunt comes and takes her to Frankfult. And then, Haidi met Clara,who has lost the use
of her legs.
This story is very famous in Japan. so, I watched many times on the TV when i was little.
no matter i know this story well, i would enjoy this warm story.… (more)

The descriptions in this book allow the reader to feel the mountains around her. Heidi is an honest, caring, open child--almost a cross between a present day Junie B. Jones and Amelia Bedilia. She finds herself in trouble due to her absolute purity and innocense, but she is loved deeply by those she encounters. The story begins as she trudges up the mountain to meet her grumpy old grandfather, but it doesn't take him long to experience joy in Heidi's presence. Peter, the goatheard, finds great friendship with Heidi, and his grandmother loves her voice, especially when she learns to read. She spends time in Frankfurt as a companion to Clara, a disabled girl, but she returns to her grandfather on the mountain as she becomes horribly homesick. Clara comes to visit Heidi on the mountain, and Peter becomes very jealous leading to a transformation in Clara.… (more)

"Heidi" Maby everyone know her name and this story is very famouse in Japan. Heidi is pure and charming girl. Sometimes there are some troubles, but She overcome and live happy in great nature.
This book warmed me especialy for the sake of the character of Heidi. As you know, she is very cute girl. If you read this book, you like her more and more.… (more)

Heidi is a great book. Its full of adventures for this little girl. Its about her going to her grandfathers who is a very grumpy old man but in the end he turns out to be caring, loving and full of joy! She starts out as a 6 year old trying to find fun in her life and then she meets a boy called Peter and he helps with all the goats. Peter has got a sweet blind old granny that loves the sound of Heidis voice when she reads the old lady wondorous storys.
Its my FAVOURITE book.… (more)

This book is famous story. Main character's name is Heidi.But true name is not Heidi, but Adelheid.She lives with her grandfather in his little wooden house. Miraculously,people often change when they meet little Heidi!!
This story made me feel happy and moved me.Especially, when you are not fine, I want you to read this book!!… (more)

Everybody is afraid of the “Alm-Ucle”, who lives by himself a long way up the Swiss mountainside. When five-year-old orphan Heidi is deposited with him, nobody suspects how deeply the two soon grow to love each other. When Aunt Dete returns to take Heidi to Fankfurt to be the companion of wheel-chair bound Klara, the two girls form a great friendship, until Heidi becomes as ill as her friend, and both must be healed by the mountain air.

This story, now over 125 years old, will still captivate children of all ages. It confronts themes of prejudice, jealousy, and loneliness, while still finding room for frolicking with goats, a haunting, and a miracle!

An interesting feature of the story is that for each of the three main characters (Heidi, Klara, and goat-herd Peter), grandparents are more accessible than parents. Heidi forms a special bond with the grandmothers of each of the other two children, as well as her special relationship with her own grandfather, the Alm-Uncle. Klara’s father is usually away on business, while Peter’s mother is a minor character and his father never mentioned. The special, safe, and loving relationship associated with grandparenting contributes to the warmth of the story.

Heidi herself is intelligent, considerate, and extremely generous. Her enthusiasm for helping out others wherever possible, particularly Peter’s blind grandmother, is charming and funny, as she often fails to realise that her ready solutions are not practical.

Although for Heidi, her sojourn in Frankfurt is the most difficult time, it is perhaps the most enjoyable episode in the book for the reader. It is during these seven chapters, when Heidi is out of her native element, that her most endearing characteristics are revealed. Klara’s household and family are rich, educated, and well brought-up, whereas Heidi’s education has been only among the goats, and she has little idea of the correct way to behave in the city or amongst “gentlefolk”. The house-keeper, grumpy Miss Rottenmeier despairs, and would much prefer that Heidi had never joined them, but Klara adores her new friend, and always gets her own way.

This is a peaceful adventure story full of friendships and love, and I would recommend that nobody should reach the age of 11 without having read it, or, better still, having it read to them.… (more)