heidi story book review

Chapter 1-3: Heidi's Arrival in the Alps

Heidi is sent to live with her grandfather, Alm-Uncle, in the Swiss Alps. At first, he is unwelcoming, but Heidi's sunny disposition wins him over. She also befriends Peter, a goatherd.

Chapter 4-6: Life in the Mountains

Heidi immerses herself in the simple mountain life, reveling in the beauty of nature. She brings joy to her grandfather and grows closer to Peter.

Chapter 7-10: Heidi's Departure and Arrival in Frankfurt

Heidi is taken to Frankfurt to be a companion to Clara, who is confined to a wheelchair. Although she misses the mountains, she forms a bond with Clara and her grandmother.

Chapter 11-13: Clara's Improvement and Return to the Mountains

Clara makes remarkable progress with Heidi's encouragement. She expresses a desire to visit the Alps, and the group eventually returns to the mountains.

Chapter 14-16: Reunion in the Mountains

Heidi is overjoyed to be back in her beloved mountains, and Clara experiences the healing power of the natural surroundings. However, a series of events leads to challenges for the group.

Chapter 17-19: Resolving Challenges and Finding Peace

Through perseverance and the support of loved ones, the characters navigate the challenges they face, finding resolutions and experiencing personal growth.

• Heidi's arrival in the mountains and her initial interactions with her grandfather and Peter.
• Heidi's departure to Frankfurt and her time spent with Clara and her family.
• Clara's improvement and the decision to return to the mountains.
• The reunion of the characters in the mountains and the challenges they face.
• The resolution of the challenges and the characters finding peace and happiness.

Nature and Its Healing Power

The novel highlights the restorative and healing effects of nature on the human spirit. The mountains and meadows provide solace and rejuvenation for the characters, particularly Clara, whose health improves during her time in the Alps.

Friendship and Compassion

Heidi's unwavering compassion and friendship have a profound impact on those around her. Her ability to bring joy and comfort to others illustrates the transformative power of genuine human connections.

Resilience and Adaptability

The characters demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity, adapting to new environments and overcoming challenges. Their ability to find strength and hope in difficult circumstances serves as an inspiring example.

Social Class and Equality

The stark contrast between Heidi's simple mountain life and Clara's affluent upbringing raises important questions about social class and equality. The novel subtly addresses these themes through the interactions between the characters.

"Heidi" offers readers a heartwarming and enchanting journey through the Swiss Alps, celebrating the innocence of childhood, the beauty of nature, and the enduring power of love and friendship. Through Heidi's adventures, readers are reminded of the importance of compassion, resilience, and the healing qualities of the natural world.

Johanna Spyri's "Heidi" continues to captivate readers with its timeless themes and endearing characters. The novel's portrayal of the Swiss Alps and the universal values it espouses make it a cherished work of children's literature that resonates across generations. As readers immerse themselves in Heidi's world, they are treated to a story that celebrates the transformative power of friendship, the resilience of the human spirit, and the enduring beauty of nature.

Who is the author of Heidi?

The author of Heidi is Johanna Spyri, a Swiss author.

What is the genre of Heidi?

Heidi is a classic children's literature novel that falls into the genre of fiction.

What is the setting of Heidi?

The story is set in the Swiss Alps, primarily in the village of Dörfli and the mountainside home of Heidi's grandfather.

What is the main theme of Heidi?

The main themes of Heidi include the healing power of nature, the importance of family and friendship, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Who are the main characters in Heidi?

The main characters in Heidi include Heidi, her grandfather (Alm-Uncle), Clara, Peter the goatherd, and Grandmamma Sesemann.

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April 5, 2013 / 0 Comments

Heidi  is iconic. Classic. Everybody’s read it (or so it would seem). When I say “Heidi,” don’t you just see the sides of the Swiss Alps, velvety green and dotted with sheep, unrolling before our sure-footed heroine? She’s darling, that Heidi, with the sun gleaming upon her golden curls . . .

But wait! What’s that, you say? I’m thinking of Shirley Temple in the movie adaptation? Well, my stars. You’re right.

Now, some of you remember this book fondly, and are just wasting away with impatience while you wait for your children to reach a suitable age for reading it. I, on the other hand, had forgotten about Heidi (and her  black  curls) completely, somewhere between childhood and motherhood. But now, I get to discover her anew, and oh, what a joy that is!

The story of Heidi, like that of Joseph in the Bible, takes a strange route to a happy ending, and in doing so, shows a God who cares deeply about the softest prayer, even when he may not—at first—seem to respond.

Like so many children in classic literature, Heidi is an orphan sent to live with a suspect guardian. His story fills the first pages, and may be a little intense for a young reader at first, but press on! Read carefully, if you must, but do not stop! The story takes some unlikely turns but does not fail to deliver.

I dare not tell you more of the plot, for fear of treading on its well-spun threads, but I will leave you with this:

“Oh, how glad I am that God did not let me have at once all I prayed and wept for! And now I shall always pray to God as she told me, and always thank Him, and when He does not do anything I ask for I shall think to myself…God, I am sure, is going to do something better still.”

One last thing: have you seen those Puffin editions of children’s classics (pictured above)? I adore them, and this is why: they’ve taken a great cast of children’s classics, from George MacDonald to Shakespeare, packaged them well, and priced them at five dollars each.

I’ve started collecting them, because my oldest reads and rereads and thumbs through her favorite books endlessly, and those thrifty, secondhand copies I had originally purchased are now swathed in box tape or, simply put, gone (and my youngest is only now taking an interest in chapter books). I’m not a paid spokesperson for Puffin, I promise: I just really, really like these pint-sized editions of the classics, and I thought you might like them, too.

Heidi Johanna Spyri (1880)

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Hi, I'm Théa! I review classic literature, poetry, nonfiction, fantasy, picture books—children's books luminous with grace and beauty. These are books our family loved and that I think you'll love too. Thanks for stopping by!

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Heidi by Johanna Spyri | Berg’s Book Club Review

Categories: Berg's Book Club Media & Politics

Published: 6th September, 2017

Book Title:  Heidi Author:  Johanna Spyri Book Series:  Heidi Series No.:  Book 1 Genre: Children's Fiction, Disabled Lit First Published:  1881 Publisher:  Kingfisher

Welcome to another edition of Berg's Book Club where you can get all your book review needs.

This week, it is Heidi by Johanna Spyri. A Victorian classic about a girl who lives in the alps and makes friends with a disabled  girl. Like many victorian literature with disabled characters, this book contains unbelievable miracles. However, appreciating it is a book of it's time, there are some comic scenes in the book that makes it enjoyable to read.

Responsibility as a Writer

This was one of my first book reviews for Berg's Book Club back when it ... well, when the club had no name. Since then, I have done an amazing module in Creative Writing: Writing and Responsibility.   

So... I've come back to this book review to give it an update on what I have learned—and to follow the style of my more up-to-date book reviews.

I've developed a sort of distaste to Victorian literature—or to be exact, their views on disability. For one of my coursework pieces, we were looking into the responsibility of the writer.

This could mean anything from their responsibility to accurately represent a minority, such as a disability, to their responsibility in grammar, genre, authenticity. I chose to look at disability, and although I didn't choose Spyri as one of the authors, this book did influence my essay.

A little bit of politics

I don't hate the victorian disabled literature genre in the same way that I do modern literature, for example, Me Before You and Good Kings, Bad Kings .

You'd think, coming from different time periods, literature would have changed. We know better, right? right?

No discrimination going around in the world that will make life difficult for disabled people, right?

To be fair, there are a few books I have read recently where the disabled characters are portrayed in a realistic way; two of the books I have also reviewed: Amy and Matthew , and I have also read a retelling of What Katy Did . The retelling is written by Jacqueline Wilson and is simply called Katy.

Due to the age of Spyri's Heidi, I have decided to forgive it for the values it presents—it is not as bad as the modern books with the same values. But that doesn't mean I need to like it.

Orphaned Heidi lives with her gruff but caring grandfather on the side of Swiss mountain, where she befriends young Peter the goat-herd. She leads an idyllic life, until she is forced to leave the mountain she has always known to go and live with a sickly girl in the city. Will Heidi ever see her grandfather again? A classic tale of a young girl's coming-of-age, of friendship, and familial love.   ( Goodreads.com)

Plot of Heidi

The plot was alright. Heidi, an orphaned child, constantly goes from home to home.

Aunt Dete takes Heidi up to the mountains, where her grandfather lives, because Dete can no longer look after her. Aunt Dete has a new job opportunity in Frankfurt and Heidi is unable to go with her. Heidi stays with her grandfather for another three years where she befriends a boy, Peter, and his blind grandmother. She even encourages her grandfather to socialise.

Then the aunt returns to take her away. Aunt Dete takes Heidi to another family, the Sesemanns, who have agreed to look after her if she is a friend to their 'invalid' daughter, Clara. The rest of the story follows her friendship with Clara, her lessons and her homesickness.

I listened to this book on audible. Something I often do when I don't have time to read. I found many boring passages but some passages also made me laugh.

An example of this is when Heide brings homes kittens, unaware of Mrs Rottenmeier's dislike of all and any animal. Spyri and the narrator of the book brought Mrs Rottenmieir's reaction to life. I couldn't help but laugh.

One thing Spyri is good at is parallels. Heidi is fond of her grandfather, Peter's grandmother and Clara's grandmother. In fact, Clara's grandmother's character is similar to Peter's, which helps Heidi settle into the house more.

However, Heidi is unable to learn her lessons when Mrs Rottenmeier and Clara's teacher is unable to teach her.

Clara's grandmother pays a visit, she comes with more patience, kindness and wisdom to start Heidi on her path to learning. This creates conflict as Mrs Rottenmeirer and the teacher were planning on being able to get rid of Heidi or not teach her. Because of Clara's grandmother's fondness for Heidi and her help in Heidi's education, they ended up stuck with her for a little longer. Especially as Heidi had the support of Clara's father too.

There are other parallels. There is a parallel between Peter and Clara. Peter does not take the opportunity to learn but Clara does not have many opportunities despite her homeschooling. So when Clara visits the mountings and Heidi is spending time with her, there is a lot of conflict between Peter and Clara.

These parallels and conflicts really add to the story.

Parallels with a message

Another great parallel throughout the story is the city life verse the suburbs and nature. Clara is born disabled. Heidi becomes ill while in the city. The doctor, Doctor Classen, becomes ill. Clara's condition worsens.  The cure? The Swiss Mountains where Heidi grew up. Everyone becomes better.

This is the bit that I struggle with. Because I literally mean, everyone gets better. Clara is no longer bound into a wheelchair at the end.

the stereotypical way in which disabled characters are portrayed; a tired plot structure in which they die or get cured at the end - (Dunn, 2014, p. 2)

However, this is what was done in the Victorian era, when disability was still seen as the work of the devil. So, I am able to forgive Spryi for her lack of understanding and unawareness.

Characters in Heidi

Heidi is like any other eight-year-old child. Looking to have some fun. She grew accustomed to her life in the mountain, wishing to return despite the financial difference in life.  She didn't really care if she had nice clothes, nice food and toys to play with, all she wanted was her grandfather.

However, the one thing Heidi tried to take with her was the soft rolls for Peter's grandmother in the hope that it would give her back her sight. Showing Heidi's naïvety on difference and disabilities. Although, apparently, not that naïve.

Heidi's growth is the ability to adapt but also to never change her string values and belief of family and friendship.

On the other hand, she also influences the other characters to grow.  This is because of her desire to be close to nature and her experience on the mountain. Her friends in the city learn how much the fresh air and change of scenery can benefit their health and appetite.

The Grandfather

Heidi's Grandfather   is around 70 years old and ran to the mountains after the loss of his two sons and all his property bar 2 goats. Until Heidi's entrance in his life, he lived in solitary with his grief and shame.

Heidi encourages her grandfather to make friends with Peter's grandmother by getting him to do some work on her house which is starting to fall into ruin. When Aunt Dete comes to collect her, he does not want her to go and is happy to see her when she comes back.

Peter's Grandmother

Peter's Grandmother is blind, losing her sight from old age. She uses this to her advantage by getting her grandson to read to her on a daily basis. Encouraging him to learn.

She also teaches Heidi about difference and makes her aware of the life of the poor and the rich. At the end of the book, she is not cured and is probably the only character that has stayed the same. Which, in truth, I am happy about.

Peter is 11 years old and seems to have a crush on Heidi. The pair are best friends but when Clara and Doctor Classen come into Heidi's life, Peter struggles to come to terms that a person can have more than one friend. This makes him jealous and he acts out because of this, breaking Clara's chair and is ultimately the reason Clara is forced to learn how to walk again.

However, he does grow a conscience and becomes aware of his flaws. Once he does, he asks his grandmother for advice on how to make amends, sending a positive message to the boys who would have read the book when it was first written.

Clara 

Clara is the complete opposite of Heidi; taught to be a lady, has had an education and an upper-class upbringing. But this does not stop the two from making friends. In fact, I think it is one of the reasons their friendship became so strong. The girls became inseparable.

Clara began teaching Heidi how to be a lady whole Heidi taught Clara about the Swiss Mountains and the life of people who were less well-off—financially.

Clara's change is a big one and one I disapprove of. She becomes able-bodied from spending time in the fresh air.

Clara's Grandmother

Clara's Grandmother is similar to Peter's but she has full sight. She gives advice to Heidi and teaches her how to read, write and count.

Mrs Rottenmieir 

Mrs Rottenmieir is strict - if you have seen Maggie Smith play the housekeeper, Mrs. Medlock, in  The Secret Garden  or play Professor McGonagall in  Harry Potter,  then you know what kind of strictness I mean.

Mrs Rottenmieir does not like Heidi because of her unruliness and lower-class background. Heidi was also slow at understanding what she was being taught. She tries to make Heidi's stay uncomfortable but does not expect the Kittens Heidi has been hiding and screams in utter terror.

My Thoughts

I know it's an old book which means the view of disability in Spyri's time is vastly different from now. Not only that, the time period was much more religious but at the same time saw an increase in science—a threat.

Spryi seems to suggest that fresh, clean air found outside the cities can cure disability. Surely they knew in their time that wasn't the case?

People didn't just get up and walk one day.

I wish the Tardis was a real time machine, just so I could go back and ask Spryi and other authors; see what they really thought the world was like.

Personally, I think Spryi sends out the wrong message about disabled people in this book. She suggest that we are lazy; I know plenty of people who fight their disability on a daily basis just to do the things they enjoy.

I think it's not so much an issue with Spryi's book personally, but that even now, modern literature lacks true representation and so children are going to see this message and the negativity and it will stay with them.

Discussions with children

As this is classed as a children's book, it suggests that disability is a choice or something that can be healed and enforces a stereotype disabled people are trying to fight— that we are scroungers who don't really need help. It also suggests your disability is something to be ashamed of.

Young readers are easily influenced and if a young disabled child reads this book, they may believe that they could get better if they didn't use their aid. Able-bodied children may believe that their friend or classmate may get better if they took away the aid like Peter did.

I suggest if you give Heidi to a child, explain that the world does not work this way but the people in the 1800s wished it did. It could be a good way to introduce them to disability.

Personally, I would use another book like Katy b y   Jacqueline Wilson to show them how views have changed and that people cannot just be or need to be 'healed'.

On the other hand, I found the story was ok until the ending.

Thank you for reading this book review. I hope you enjoyed this post. And please do follow me on here, Facebook or Twitter.

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5 thoughts on “ heidi by johanna spyri | berg’s book club review ”.

This is so good I agree also with the story of Hedi as if your born disabled there is no way because your chair has gone that u r going to get up and walk maybe if u had an accident to begin might be different but in this case it didn’t happen like this as also with secret garden maybe it was meant to show people this could happen but to me it’s false hope to people who are born with disability as they would love to do this and I find wrong as children do believe that this can or could happen as I’m only aware yes if you have a accident later in life this might be able to happen but it’s not 100 percent that life would be the same again I’m not a doctor I just know from some expertises this isn’t always the case

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Book Review: Heidi

Heidi by Johanna Spyri is a story about a young orphan girl who is sent to live with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps. This story was very enjoyable and enchanting to read, and I particularly liked reading about the day-to-day activities that occurred in the Alps, and the people who Heidi met. I loved the mountain setting of the novel, and it made the story feel very cozy and lovely. The bonds that Heidi made with her cranky grandfather, and many other friends she made in the mountain were very heart-warming and wholesome to read about. Even though this novel is labeled as a children's story, the novel had some valuable morals littered throughout it, and in my opinion, the plot could be easily enjoyed by all ages. I'd recommend this classic to anyone who likes an easy, but heartwarming read.

Reviewer Grade: 11

55 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-13

Chapters 14-19

Chapters 20-23

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

Swiss author Johanna Spyri originally published the middle-grade fiction novel Heidi in German in two volumes in 1880. The novel quickly became a beloved classic children’s book that has since been adapted into 25 film and television versions, including a 1968 made-for-TV movie and a very popular anime series in 1974. It has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide.

Spyri was born in Hirzel, a Zurich village that shares a border with the German Rhineland. Spyri’s depiction of the idyllic, simple past of Alpine life is believed to be partially autobiographical, as she spent her summers in a village called Maienfeld. However, before Spyri’s death, she burned all her private letters and journals, leaving much of her life a mystery. In addition to Heidi , Spyri published 32 other children’s books before she died in 1901.

The source material for this guide comes from the 1956 translation from Penguin Random House UK, reissued in 2015 as a Puffin Classic edition, therefore names and wordings may vary.

Plot Summary

Dete’s sister Adelheid dies, leaving her and her mother to care for her daughter, Heidi. Dete’s mother dies as well, leaving Dete as Heidi’s sole caregiver, but she wants to take a new job in the city and can no longer care for her niece. Dete forces Heidi to hike from Dörfli up the mountain, where she will live with her grandfather , called “Uncle Alp” by the villagers.

Shunned by the townsfolk, Grandfather lives alone in a remote mountain hut. He welcomes Heidi into his modest home, and they become fast friends. Heidi begins visiting the high mountain pasture with goatherd Peter and falls in love with the landscape. Later, Heidi meets Peter’s mother and grandmother, Grannie , who is blind. Heidi begins visiting Grannie and convinces Grandfather to make some much-needed repairs to Peter’s home. Grandfather and Heidi often invite Peter to stay with them for dinner, and he is thankful since his family often does not have enough to eat.

Peter attends the village school in the winter, but after a year of living on the mountain with Grandfather, Heidi does not attend school. The schoolmaster sends the church pastor to speak with Grandfather, and he encourages him to move to Dörfli in the winter so it is easier for Heidi to attend school. Grandfather refuses. Dete returns, having secured a position in Frankfurt for Heidi to become a companion to Clara Sesemann, the daughter of a wealthy businessman, who has a physical disability and uses a wheelchair. Grandfather protests, but Dete threatens to involve the townsfolk and lies to Heidi, saying she can visit Grandfather anytime. Grandfather lets Heidi go without saying goodbye. Grandfather becomes detached and sullen and stops visiting Grannie.

When Heidi and Dete arrive in Frankfurt, the house manager, Frau Rottenmeier , finds Heidi’s youth and lack of education make her ill-suited to be Clara’s companion. Heidi becomes acquainted with Clara, and they soon become friends.

The next morning, a young servant, Sebastian, suggests Heidi find a church tower so she can see the trees. There, Heidi meets a street performer boy and the church caretaker. The caretaker gives her two kittens and promises to deliver more the next day. The street performer boy demands payment, and Heidi tells him to come to Clara’s flat.

Heidi arrives late for dinner with the kittens in her pockets. Rottenmeier, who is terrified of cats, bolts from the table and hides in her room. Sebastian takes the kittens to a safe place. When a basket of kittens arrives on the doorstep, Rottenmeier nearly faints, and Sebastian makes a home for the kittens in the attic. The street performer arrives for his payment and lets his pet tortoise loose in the study while he plays for Clara. Heidi accidentally pulls the tablecloth, sending all the table’s contents to the floor. Rottenmeier is apoplectic, and Sebastian quickly hurries the boy out the door and pays him for his services.

Clara’s father, Herr Sesemann, returns from a business trip to meet Heidi. Despite Rottenmeier’s flustered depictions of Heidi’s behavior, he believes Heidi’s presence is beneficial for Clara. Herr Sesemann leaves, and his mother, Clara’s Grandmamma, arrives for visit. She is a kind woman, and when she learns that Heidi is illiterate, she meets with her each day during Clara’s nap to read with her. With help from Clara’s tutor, Heidi learns her alphabet.

Grandmamma realizes Heidi is profoundly homesick. She encourages Heidi to pray to God for help, and Heidi prays each night. Heidi’s homesickness worsens, and she stops eating and cries into her pillow daily. When the household discovers Heidi is sleepwalking, Clara’s doctor, Dr. Classen, informs Herr Sesemann that she must return to Switzerland.

Clara sends Heidi away with nice dresses and a basket of fresh rolls for Grannie. Grandfather weeps with joy when he sees Heidi. She resumes her daily visits to Grannie and reads her hymns. Heidi shares with Grandfather the story of the prodigal son, and it moves Grandfather to pray for the first time in many years. The next day, he and Heidi attend church, and Grandfather apologizes to the pastor. He announces that he and Heidi will move to Dörfli in the winter so she can attend school.

Clara longs to visit Heidi, but her health remains poor, so Dr. Classen visits in her stead. Having recently lost his young daughter, being near Heidi and enjoying the fresh mountain air brings him comfort, and he extends his trip. Heidi teaches Peter the alphabet.

The following year, Clara and Grandmamma arrive at the hut. Clara stays with Heidi and Grandfather for a month, spending all day outside and growing stronger on goat’s milk. Soon, Clara is strong enough to take her first steps. Peter becomes jealous of Clara and shoves her wheelchair off the mountain. When Grandmamma and Herr Sesemann return, Peter confesses his wrongdoing, but everyone is so happy to see Clara’s health returned that they agree to forgive him.

Clara leaves but promises to return to Switzerland. Herr Sesemann agrees to provide for Heidi’s needs when Grandfather dies, and Heidi asks him to send her bed from Frankfurt as a gift for Grannie. Dr. Classen moves to Dörfli and shares a home with Heidi and Grandfather in the winter, and he makes Heidi his sole heir.

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Heidi book review.

I read the book Heidi between 7th and 11th grade when I finished. The book was left stagnant for some time. This is an amazing and emotional book for children. I have to say, unlike many works of children's literature where the author takes advantage, this book isn't violent with blood at all, although there are grim moments. The suggested reading age by critics is 9+, perhaps younger children can be read aloud. The story shows how Heidi learns new lessons and retains her jovial personality. I also feel joyous at Heidi's wholesome relationships with other people. There are some pretty humorous moments too. I would strongly suggest people who wanted to escape reality read this wonderful book about the Swiss Alps and the culture it has.

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Heidi (Children's Classics) Hardcover – September 1, 1998

• Print length 352 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 4 - 6
• Dimensions 5.72 x 0.97 x 8.5 inches
• Publisher Children's Classics
• Publication date September 1, 1998
• ISBN-10 0517189674
• ISBN-13 978-0517189672
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Amazon.com review, from the inside flap, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Children's Classics (September 1, 1998)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0517189674
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0517189672
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 6 - 10 years, from customers
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 4 - 6
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.72 x 0.97 x 8.5 inches
• #11,139 in Children's Classics

About the authors

Johanna spyri.

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• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 77% 14% 5% 2% 3% 14%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 77% 14% 5% 2% 3% 5%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 77% 14% 5% 2% 3% 2%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 77% 14% 5% 2% 3% 3%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers find the story uplifting, delightful, and spectacular. They also appreciate how the book is written, with an old-fashioned feel and black and white illustrations that engage visual learners. Readers say the content is full of good Christian values and provides joy and hope in its simplicity. They say the heroine exemplifies kindness, generosity of spirit, and joy. They find the characters well-defined and relaxing. However, some customers feel the inside illustrations aren't good.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the story uplifting, delightful, and clean. They say the book has life lessons to learn and relearn within its pages. Readers also mention that the ending is the best and the book is a great classic.

"...The book is a great, heart-warming story for all ages ." Read more

"...When I read this now on my kindle I was thrilled. The story is even better than I remembered . Thank you." Read more

"I now would like to see the movie. A wonderful story and much to ponder and consider in our lives. God loves us no matter what." Read more

"...it (somehow) and I find it to be very entertaining also and a very touching story ...." Read more

Customers find the book easy to read. They appreciate the translation, which is very good. They also say the narrator is pleasant to listen to, and the book is a feel-good read. Readers also mention that the description of the countryside brings back memories. They like the black and white illustrations, which engage visual learners.

"...This was a pleasant, heart-warming and a feel-good read ." Read more

"...It is so superbly well-written , with bits of anticipation and humor along the way...." Read more

"...It will be the oldest book that I own! But it is much less descriptive and geared towards 12-year-olds...." Read more

"...I was rather astonished at the high vocabulary level and complicated sentence structures ...." Read more

Customers find the book good for younger children, especially girls. They say it's a great example for their girls to learn more about trusting God's plans. Readers also mention it'll be a good introduction to classic literature.

"...I think this book is best suited for mid to upper elementary ." Read more

"...It is a great example for my girls to learn more about trusting God’s plans and his timing." Read more

"...There are about 101 pages in this book and the chapters are brief ...." Read more

"...I think Heidi is the perfect book for people of all ages and if you like books such as "Little House on the Prairie" you will love..." Read more

Customers find the book full of good Christian values, with many references to prayer. They also say it exemplifies kindness, generosity of spirit, and a joy for life. Readers also say the book is wholesome and great reading for all.

"...It also gives a message to belief in God . God has given us the best gift which is our lives and we must be grateful for that...." Read more

"I love how this story tells religious lessons sometimes and how it all ends happily. It is a very good story!" Read more

"...The book also has strong theological overtones , and it can be helpful for teaching children how to manage life's difficulties...." Read more

"...I love how it promotes high character, strong family bonds, faith in God , and kindness to others...." Read more

Customers find the heroine exemplifies kindness, generosity of spirit, and joy. They also say the book has delightful characters and wonderful morals. Readers say the story brings joy, peace, and hope to everyone.

"This story teaches us that kindness, caring , and sincerity can make a big impact on the people around us. It also gives a message to belief in God...." Read more

"...The book is full of compassion -- kindness -- sadness -- love -- actually a child's book that is good for 'children' of all ages...." Read more

"...This is a wonderful story that is timeless in the life character lesson that it teaches against the most beautiful background of the Swiss Alps...." Read more

"...up an example of optimism, great charity, independence, courage, friendship , and faithfulness or duty...." Read more

Customers find the characters in the book well-defined and touching.

"...The characters are very well-defined , and Heidi touches the hearts of all who meet her...." Read more

"Heidi is a completely endearing character and you cannot help but fall in love with her and her plight...." Read more

"...The characters were believable , in context, and the religious message, though stronger than I remembered, was appropriate." Read more

"...The story is simple, the characters fairly shallow , and the storyline predictable...." Read more

Customers find the atmosphere of the book very relaxing and comforting. They also say it's an antidote to the depressing atmosphere.

"...This was a pleasant , heart-warming and a feel-good read." Read more

"...simplicity that will make you smile if your desire is a simple, feel good book ." Read more

"...Heidi is a delicious, pleasant , and intriguing book. 👍..." Read more

"This book is a balm to the soul ...." Read more

Customers find the illustrations in the book not good, close together, and superficial. They also say the product is not as pictured or promoted and is an unillustrated copy of Heidi.

"...There are no illustrations included in this version , leaving the reader to rely on their own imagination to picture the scenes Spyri has so vividly..." Read more

"...I read the free kindle version and I enjoyed it. There are no illustrations only words that say "end of chapter illustration" etc...." Read more

"...you want is a "pretty" cover - fine, but even the inside illustrations aren't good - it saddened me and I sent it back...." Read more

"...the illustrations list printed in the front of the book, I am missing 2 illustrations in the copy I received...." Read more

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Heidi: behind the scenes of a Swiss myth

She is the most famous Swiss child. Heidi has enchanted generations of readers with her love of life, her independence and her thirst for freedom. The novel has been translated into 70 languages and has inspired over 15 film adaptations. We all know Heidi. But did you know that Japan was at the heart of Heidi’s world fame? And that Heidi’s fate mirrors the story of the 19th-century Swiss emigrants? Here are some other things we bet you didn’t know…

Heidi is the moving story of a little orphaned Swiss girl who finds happiness in her Alpine paradise and touches those around her with her warm heart and high moral values. Published in 1880, the first volume of the novel was an immediate hit among readers in Switzerland and Germany. Author Johanna Spyri (1827–1901) published the second volume just a year later, and the novel was subsequently translated into French, English and many other languages. A 1920 translation into Japanese marked the beginning of the Japanese devotion to Heidi. Then in 1974 an anime series introduced her to children all over the world. The countless film adaptations and serialised novels published since 1880 have taken various degrees of freedom with the plot. Heidi has nevertheless remained an iconic Swiss figure who is recognised the world over and whose story reflects life in Switzerland in the 19 th century.

A story of many Swiss migrants

The novel starts with a sad moment: Aunt Dete brings 5-year-old Heidi to her paternal grandfather who lives in seclusion on a mountain pasture above the village of Maienfeld in the canton of Graubünden. Dete leaves the orphan girl with the grumpy old man and hurries away to take up a job as a maid in Germany. Like many Swiss workers and peasants at the time, the aunt emigrated to make a living. Poverty, hunger and inhumane factory conditions were widespread in 19 th -century Switzerland. To make matters worse, many Swiss farmers saw their potato harvest destroyed by the blight wreaking havoc in Europe. Some 330,000 Swiss emigrated between 1850 and 1888, most headed for the United States.

Heidi has been an orphan since the death of her father on a construction site and loss of her mother to grief shortly after. The paternal grandfather, called Alp-Öhi , a Swiss German expression meaning Uncle on the Alp , does not welcome his new charge at first. Heidi soon wins him over with her exuberance, warm character and interest in nature.

The contrast between the austere mountain life and the urban setting of an emigrant’s daily routine abroad is brought to the reader’s attention when Aunt Dete returns to the mountain pasture and takes Heidi to Frankfurt. There, shut up in the mansion of an upper-class German family, she falls ill. Unlike most 19 th century emigrants, Heidi’s exile comes to an end. Seeing that she is homesick, the family’s physician Dr Classen insists that she return to her Alpine home.

An international career

Like Mark Twain’s ‘Tom Sawyer ’ and Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice ’ , Heidi was part of an emerging children’s literature in the 19 th century. Heidi’s story has been progressively altered in various translations and adaptations. Some translators mistreated the original text to soften the story, observes Nicolas Ducimetière, deputy director of the Bodmer foundation in an interview with Swiss Radio and Television RTS. In English alone, there are about 13 different translations. 

The original Heidi novel has inspired many a film producer. Heidi’s first screen appearance was in a silent movie released in the US in 1920. The 1937 Hollywood movie by Allan Dwan, with child star Shirley Temple in the role of Heidi, was the first sound film of Spyri’s novel. This loose adaptation was a box office hit and soon reached European cinemas. Although the movie was entirely shot in the US, it reinforced the American idea of Switzerland as an Alpine paradise.

In Japan, Heidi was highly popular long before the 1937 Hollywood movie. According to Swiss author Jean-Michel Wissmer, while the novel was first translated into Japanese in 1920, it was a literary adaptation 5 years later that marked the beginning of a “true passion” for Heidi. The book was an adaptation to suit a Japanese audience, with all of the characters given Japanese names. More than 30 editions of Heidi were subsequently published in Japan. 

The Japanese translation contributed to Heidi’s international success and triggered a series of new translations in other languages. In the 1930s the French editor Flammarion and Henri Studer in Geneva published a serialised novel in addition to the French translation of the original. The stories of how Heidi grew up, started her own family and lived her life as a mother and grandmother were written by Charles Tritten, the French translator of the initial two volumes.

Heidi’s popularity in Japan may be linked to the clash between tradition and modernity that is omnipresent in the novel, and to its representation of nature as a source of health and happiness and a manifestation of the sublime. Isao Takahata’s 1974 animated cartoon series Heidi the Girl of the Alps not only marked the height of the Japanese adoration of Heidi, it also made her the heroine of an entire generation of children in Europe. Wissmer observes that Takahata’s cartoon led to street protests in Spain in 1976, with people demanding that the series be shown on prime time television and not just during the children’s afternoon slot.

Takahata, who passed away in April 2018, had travelled to Switzerland to visit the original settings for Spyri’s novel and got his inspiration from the Alpine landscape.

“With a typical Japanese sense of perfection, Takahata created a delicate artwork that impresses with its care and attention to detail,” notes Wissmer. Today, tourists can visit the Japanese Heidi village in Yamanashi Prefecture.

A discreet prominence

Spyri is the most widely read and translated Swiss author, yet little is known about her. She is said to have been uncomfortable publishing details about herself. Spyri even reclaimed some of the letters she had written to family and friends over the years and destroyed them along with other personal documents before her death.   This may have been because it was frowned upon for women in high society to expose their lives to public scrutiny. Nevertheless, Spyri published some 50 literary works including 32 children’s books – despite having only begun to write at the age of 44.

Spyri was the daughter of the acclaimed mystic poet Meta Heusser. When she wrote Heidi, she was leading a bourgeois life in Zurich, where she and her husband welcomed famous guests, such as Conrad Ferdinand Meyer and Richard Wagner. Johanna didn’t come from the region in which Heidi is set. She grew up in Hirzel, a hillside village not far from Zurich, and moved to the city when she got married to the lawyer Johann Bernhard Spyri. But just as Heidi could not get used to living in Frankfurt, Johanna was unhappy in Zurich in her role of spouse and housewife, and uncomfortable in Zurich society. 

After a bout of illness and depression, Johanna found her way back to a more joyful life in part through her son, who according to Wissmer had plenty of humour and was a talented musician. This was when she started to write her first novels. Johanna probably came up with the story of Heidi during one of her stays at a health resort in the region around Bad Ragaz. Her letters indicate that she must have written Heidi in Jenins, a village neighbouring Maienfeld, in summer 1879.

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