Growing up, I spent many of my summers with my grandparents—especially my grandmother—and some of my favorite memories are tied to the stories we shared together. On hot afternoons, when the Georgia heat made it easy to stay inside, we would watch Shirley Temple movies and old Western TV shows. From Bright Eyes to The Little Princess, I was enthralled by the way Temple could sing, dance, and brighten even the saddest story. But my all-time favorite Temple movie has always been Heidi. What could easily be remembered as a tragic story instead becomes a tender tale about loyalty, family, conviction, and the healing power of a place that feels like home. The grandparents throughout this plot are the real stars: Heidi’s grandfather, who takes her in and teaches her how to live close to the land; the blind grandmother on the mountain, who showers Heidi with love and praise; and, in the original text, Frau Sesemann, who quickly understands that both Heidi and Clara may need the mountain more than anyone realizes. While the 1937 film received mixed praise for moments of comic unbelievability, Johanna Spyri’s novel has endured as a beloved classic for young readers because its emotional center still feels sincere.
I give Heidi 4 out of 5 stars. While I love the story, I will admit that it is hard for me to picture anything other than scenes from the 1937 movie while reading it. That is not necessarily a bad thing; in fact, it speaks to how strongly the film shaped my childhood memory of this story. Still, the novel has its own quieter rhythm, and returning to the original text gave me a chance to notice the themes beneath the nostalgia. There is an air of unbelievability at times, especially in the way the weather, illness, and even Grandfather’s reputation are handled, but I think that is part of the charm of reading a children’s classic from this era. The story asks readers to accept a world where goodness can soften hard hearts, mountain air can restore health, and a child’s kindness can change the people around her.
For younger readers, that simplicity is not a weakness—it is exactly what allows the book to work. The plot is gentle and juvenile in the best sense of the word, focusing on friendship, kindness, obedience, contentment, and the importance of caring for the people placed in our lives. Heidi herself is not a complicated character, but she does not need to be. Her sincerity is the force that moves the story forward. As an adult reader, I found myself paying closer attention to the adults around her: Grandfather’s grief and isolation, Clara’s loneliness, and the way different caregivers either nurture or restrict the children in their care. I especially appreciated the depiction of grandparents raising or shaping the lives of their grandchildren. That is not a topic that often gets much attention in today’s media, yet it is far more common in our communities than many people realize.
Readers who are looking for nostalgia, like I was, will likely enjoy revisiting Heidi. I would especially recommend it to those who love books such as Black Beauty by Anna Sewell and Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery—stories that center goodness, hardship, growth, and the emotional lives of children. I would also recommend it to readers who may have seen one of the film or television adaptations but have never read the original text. There are enough similarities to feel familiar, but the differences add depth and context that can build upon the experience. Readers should know that the book includes themes of parental death, disability, illness, and separation from family, so it may not be the right fit for every child or every season of life.
I chose Heidi for the Read With Lindsey reading challenge prompt “With a Grandparent,” and it ended up being a perfect fit in more ways than one. My grandmother was one of the first Fulton County Schools librarians in Atlanta, Georgia, and she helped instill in me a love of reading and storytelling that has stayed with me my entire life. I would spend hours in the summer reading books or listening as she made up oral stories for me on the spot. Revisiting Heidi reminded me of those afternoons and of the powerful role grandparents can play—not only in a child’s daily life, but also in shaping imagination, values, and memory. With Grandparents Day coming this Sunday, this felt like the right book to revisit and the right moment to celebrate the grandparents who have loved, guided, raised, encouraged, and read to us along the way. Wishing all our grandparents a very happy Grandparents Day!
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Meet Me in the Afterglow, Dr. Elly McCausland
- Current audio book: All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque
- Book I’m most looking forward to: The Magic of Chamomile Cottage, Heather Webber
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