Harris and Me
1993 children's novel by Gary Paulsen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Harris and Me is a children's novel written by American author Gary Paulsen. It was first published in 1993. The book is composed of a collection of vignettes with a subheading to preview each chapter. Based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association listed the book as one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children."[1]
Harris and Me first edition cover | |
| Author | Gary Paulsen |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Wendell Minor |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Harcourt Children's Books |
Publication date | October 29, 1993 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 168 pp (first edition) |
| ISBN | 978-0-15-292877-3 |
| OCLC | 28067113 |
| 813/.54 20 | |
| LC Class | PS3566.A834 H37 1993 |
Plot summary
Characters
- The "Me" of the title is an eleven-year-old boy who narrates the story. Since "Harris and Me" is a memoir of Gary Paulsen's childhood, The "Me" is Gary Paulsen, Or least in his point of view.
- Harris Larson: A hyperactive nine-year-old boy who loves kinetic adventures.
- Knute Larson: Harris's father, a coffee-guzzling farmer who almost never speaks.
- Louie: A farmhand on the Larson's place, who sleeps above the barn. He has no teeth and swallows his food without chewing. He also has a hobby of making small wooden sculptures, inducing a wooden hand sized bust of the main character n the memoir.
- Glennis Larson: Harris's older sister, who repeatedly slaps Harris for swearing, which happens numerous times a day.
- Clair Larson: Harris's mother, the cook of the family.
- Buzzer: A lynx who was save and raised by Louie as a pet.
- Ernie: An extremely aggressive rooster
- Vivian: A big cow who doesn't like to be touched or milked.
- Bill and Bob: The Huge Horses
Note: This is a memoir of a summer in the life of Gary Paulsen. It is said that he never went back to visit Harris.[citation needed]
Motifs
- Home life
- Belonging
- Family
- Acceptance
- Identity
Reception
Harris and Me was well received by critics, including a starred review from Booklist.[2] Kirkus Reviews referred to Harris and Me as "an earthy, wonderfully comic piece",[3] while Publishers Weekly called it a "warm comedy" with "a hearty helping of old-fashioned, rip-roaring entertainment".[4]
