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Heidi Heckelbeck #1
Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret
Introducing Heidi Heckelbeck!
Heidi and her brother Henry have always been homeschooled—until now. But Heidi is not happy about attending Brewster Elementary, especially not when meanie Melanie Maplethorpe turns Heidi’s first day of school into a nightmare by announcing that Heidi is smelly and ruining her art project. Heidi feels horrible and never wants to go back to school—but while sulking in her room at home, she remembers her special medallion and Book of Spells. With a little bit of carefully concealed magic, Heidi might be able to give Melanie a taste of her own medicine….
Heidi and her brother Henry have always been homeschooled—until now. But Heidi is not happy about attending Brewster Elementary, especially not when meanie Melanie Maplethorpe turns Heidi’s first day of school into a nightmare by announcing that Heidi is smelly and ruining her art project. Heidi feels horrible and never wants to go back to school—but while sulking in her room at home, she remembers her special medallion and Book of Spells. With a little bit of carefully concealed magic, Heidi might be able to give Melanie a taste of her own medicine….
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 3, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
August 13, 2023
I finally started this series. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it because it’s super popular but I actually enjoyed this first installment. Heidi is attending school for the first time and she’s rather uncomfortable with being in new classes and making new friends. And then she has to deal with a classroom bully.
This is a great book for younger readers, who are interested in starting chapter books, and it’s also a great book for younger readers, who are struggling with reading on level. I think that the combination of text and illustrations will be of great comfort for those who are transitioning from picture books to chapter books. I found the story to be easily digestible and fun for those who are looking for a little bit more fantasy as younger readers. I’m excited to dive into the next book in the series and see exactly what’s going to happen when Heidi attempts to handle her bully.
This is a great book for younger readers, who are interested in starting chapter books, and it’s also a great book for younger readers, who are struggling with reading on level. I think that the combination of text and illustrations will be of great comfort for those who are transitioning from picture books to chapter books. I found the story to be easily digestible and fun for those who are looking for a little bit more fantasy as younger readers. I’m excited to dive into the next book in the series and see exactly what’s going to happen when Heidi attempts to handle her bully.
September 24, 2013
My oldest daughter has really struggled with reading. Her struggles started in 1st grade. Because of this her reading level stayed at a "1" all last year during second grade as well. The worst part about this was finding books at her level that weren't about frogs and teddy bears. She is a typical 8 year old and loves girly things. I searched high and low for books at the correct level with topics that would interest her. We tried and failed many series and beginning chapter books.
Finally, I found HEIDI HECKELBECK and it has answered my prayers. She is now at a level "2" in reading and this is perfect for her. Slightly challenging, but still readable. And the story! It's great and relate-able! All three of my daughters (8, 6 and 3) sit with rapt attention and listen to this book.
I really appreciate that this book, unlike many others, does NOT display negative behavior by the lead characters. So many of these level of books have main characters calling their little siblings names like "pest" and "stupid" (like the "Ivy & Bean" books). I hate this behavior and don't allow it in my home. Heidi, although sometimes in a bad mood, never acts in an inappropriate or rude way to her family or peers.
We are loving the story-line, illustrations and concepts in this book. A+ from this grateful mom!
Finally, I found HEIDI HECKELBECK and it has answered my prayers. She is now at a level "2" in reading and this is perfect for her. Slightly challenging, but still readable. And the story! It's great and relate-able! All three of my daughters (8, 6 and 3) sit with rapt attention and listen to this book.
I really appreciate that this book, unlike many others, does NOT display negative behavior by the lead characters. So many of these level of books have main characters calling their little siblings names like "pest" and "stupid" (like the "Ivy & Bean" books). I hate this behavior and don't allow it in my home. Heidi, although sometimes in a bad mood, never acts in an inappropriate or rude way to her family or peers.
We are loving the story-line, illustrations and concepts in this book. A+ from this grateful mom!
March 30, 2012
This book pissed me off, and I'll tell you why:
The description on this book says it's about a girl who is a witch. This is not a book about a girl who is a witch. This is a book about a girl having the most mundane, generic school day ever. How boring is that? She pulls out a spell book on the LAST PAGE. Lame-o. Lots of kids aren't going to make it that far, since the book doesn't really deliver.
The description on this book says it's about a girl who is a witch. This is not a book about a girl who is a witch. This is a book about a girl having the most mundane, generic school day ever. How boring is that? She pulls out a spell book on the LAST PAGE. Lame-o. Lots of kids aren't going to make it that far, since the book doesn't really deliver.
June 30, 2013
My daughter's review on her blog KK's Books & Reviews
This is a really good book for a chapter book. I read it all in one night. Heidi is a witch, but I didn't know she was a witch, and I thought my mom was making it up. But she really is a witch!
She had to keep it a secret and I think I really want to try the spell, but I don't have a medallion or the eye of a gingerbread man.
Heidi is homeschooled and when she has to go to a normal school she is scared and doesn't have any friends. She makes one friend, but there's a mean girl named Melanie who is really mean because Heidi is new to the school and Melanie is super mean. She had to go to the principal's office, she was so mean!
At the end, Heidi still doesn't like school or Melanie, but she has a nice friend named Lucy and her brother an mom try to help her like school too. And she says, "One thing is for sure, I'm not going to forget who I am. I'm HEIDI HECKELBECK, and I'm a witch!"
I like how there are a lot of pictures, and I like how the words are bigger. It makes it easier so you don't get lost in the book.
I think this is a good book for a second grader. It was a bit easy for me, but I like it a lot. I give it 500 stars, but my mom says I can only give it 5.
This is a really good book for a chapter book. I read it all in one night. Heidi is a witch, but I didn't know she was a witch, and I thought my mom was making it up. But she really is a witch!
She had to keep it a secret and I think I really want to try the spell, but I don't have a medallion or the eye of a gingerbread man.
Heidi is homeschooled and when she has to go to a normal school she is scared and doesn't have any friends. She makes one friend, but there's a mean girl named Melanie who is really mean because Heidi is new to the school and Melanie is super mean. She had to go to the principal's office, she was so mean!
At the end, Heidi still doesn't like school or Melanie, but she has a nice friend named Lucy and her brother an mom try to help her like school too. And she says, "One thing is for sure, I'm not going to forget who I am. I'm HEIDI HECKELBECK, and I'm a witch!"
I like how there are a lot of pictures, and I like how the words are bigger. It makes it easier so you don't get lost in the book.
I think this is a good book for a second grader. It was a bit easy for me, but I like it a lot. I give it 500 stars, but my mom says I can only give it 5.
August 17, 2012
This is a great new series for young girls. It has easy to read chapters, with pictures on almost every page.
In this first book of the series we meet Heidi and her family. Heidi has a secret, which we don't find out until the end, and it is a cliffhanger once you get to it! Heidi and her younger brother, Henry, are about to go to school for the first time since they have been homeschooled. Heidi is about to enter the second grade and Henry is about to start kindergarten. While Henry is excited about going to school, Heidi is nervous and does not want to go. Her biggest fears come true when she has to sit by Melanie, who is not a very nice friend. But by lunchtime, Heidi meets a new friend and starts seeing some positives about being at school. Readers will relate to Heidi's dilemmas and once they find out Heidi's secret, will really want to read the second book!
This series will be great for beginning readers since it has predictable events and characters, and they are short and easy to read.
In this first book of the series we meet Heidi and her family. Heidi has a secret, which we don't find out until the end, and it is a cliffhanger once you get to it! Heidi and her younger brother, Henry, are about to go to school for the first time since they have been homeschooled. Heidi is about to enter the second grade and Henry is about to start kindergarten. While Henry is excited about going to school, Heidi is nervous and does not want to go. Her biggest fears come true when she has to sit by Melanie, who is not a very nice friend. But by lunchtime, Heidi meets a new friend and starts seeing some positives about being at school. Readers will relate to Heidi's dilemmas and once they find out Heidi's secret, will really want to read the second book!
This series will be great for beginning readers since it has predictable events and characters, and they are short and easy to read.
January 2, 2015
Jasmine finished her 1st chapter book of the new year in TWO days! GoOOoOOoooo Jasmine!!!! <3
February 15, 2022
Heidi is going to school for the first time in 2nd grade after being homeschooled by her mom. Her brother Henry is ecstatic about going to school, but Heidi is a grumpus. And when a mean girl just seems to prove that school is a horrible place, Heidi feels even more negative about going. But then she gets an idea...
I didn't like the way this one ended. Thankfully, I have book 2 right beside me so I skimmed through that and I was happy that eventually Heidi repents of her mean retaliation and decides to use her magic for good instead of unkind revenge. It does look like it takes a good chunk of book 2 to get there. On the other hand, I totally related to Heidi in this. Elementary school was pretty miserable for me. I had a long bus ride that made me car sick, I was not challenged much academically so I was bored, I got headaches the adults thought I was making up because I got them so frequently (which I discovered when doing student teaching in one of my old classrooms was an allergic reaction to the massive amount of newsprint in those rooms), and very much an outsider (though I did have a few good friends thankfully), and I was ecstatic when my mom decided to start homeschooling us kids when I started 5th grade. I know there are other kids like young me who will resonate with Heidi's feelings and will follow her closely to see if things get better for her. I definitely recommend not reading this by itself but immediately following it up with book 2 to get to the positive resolution of the initial conflict with the mean girl. On it's own this is a 2 star read for me. Knowing the resolution in book 2 it is a 3 star read.
I didn't like the way this one ended. Thankfully, I have book 2 right beside me so I skimmed through that and I was happy that eventually Heidi repents of her mean retaliation and decides to use her magic for good instead of unkind revenge. It does look like it takes a good chunk of book 2 to get there. On the other hand, I totally related to Heidi in this. Elementary school was pretty miserable for me. I had a long bus ride that made me car sick, I was not challenged much academically so I was bored, I got headaches the adults thought I was making up because I got them so frequently (which I discovered when doing student teaching in one of my old classrooms was an allergic reaction to the massive amount of newsprint in those rooms), and very much an outsider (though I did have a few good friends thankfully), and I was ecstatic when my mom decided to start homeschooling us kids when I started 5th grade. I know there are other kids like young me who will resonate with Heidi's feelings and will follow her closely to see if things get better for her. I definitely recommend not reading this by itself but immediately following it up with book 2 to get to the positive resolution of the initial conflict with the mean girl. On it's own this is a 2 star read for me. Knowing the resolution in book 2 it is a 3 star read.
January 22, 2021
I loved the book Heidi Heckelbeck it was amazing you should read it.
September 7, 2013
Heidi wakes up in a grouchy, grumpy gloomy mood. After being homeschooled with her younger brother, her mother decides it's time for Heidi to start second grade in the public school. Heidi isn't very happy about the new arrangement, even her favorite outfit of black jean skirt with striped black-and-white- striped tights isn't enough to cheer her up. To make things worse, on Heidi's first day she gets picked on by meanie Melanie. What's a girl to do? Heidi decides it's time to pull out her special Spell Book that has been handed down in her family and teach mean Melanie a lesson. O.K. This is where the action ends. With a great premise of a witchy girl going to school and wonderful illustrations by Priscilla Burris whats not to love? Oh yeah, cliffhanger ending. I found this to be a very different approach to a chapter book for young readers and really hope it doesn't continue with each book. I just picture unhappy little faces wondering what happens to mean Melaine. Guess they'll have to pick up Casts a Spell to find out. And I really recommend those who read the first have the second available, it's the kind of book that someone who is interested in early chapter books would like.
February 5, 2013
I'm not a big fan of these. I understand that starting at a school is hard but Heidi was incredibly negative, there was no hope or optimism to be found.
AND it ends in the middle of the story. I can understand cliffhangers in books for older kids and teens but I really feel that this will leave the younger ones without that feeling of accomplishment they need to get when they finish a book. Make them like your book so much they want to read the next one, not because you stopped in the middle of a plot point and they have to.
AND it ends in the middle of the story. I can understand cliffhangers in books for older kids and teens but I really feel that this will leave the younger ones without that feeling of accomplishment they need to get when they finish a book. Make them like your book so much they want to read the next one, not because you stopped in the middle of a plot point and they have to.
July 31, 2019
There is no story here. Heidi starts school (2nd grade) after being homeschooled. No reason why she starts school nor why she starts in the middle of the year. Heidi does not wnat to go to school and is grumpy throughout. One little girl is ugly to her. In the end, Heidi pulls out a book planning to cast a spell and reveals the secret that she is a witch. Negative focus, no resolution, and 2nd grade witchcraft.
June 8, 2013
Eliza loved this story. I read it outloud to her and a visiting cousin. It is a chapter book but has a picture nearly every page. I was not expecting what the secret was at the end and am wondering where the author is going with it. Eliza wants to read more of these.
October 13, 2019
My sister loves me to read Heidi Heckelbeck to her.
March 6, 2021
Read the first 3 books of this series to Brooke. She liked them, I did not. The siblings are not that nice to each other and the bully Melanie is a straight up B.
February 22, 2018
Heidi Heckelbeck has a secret is a fun children’s fantasy novel about Heidi, a secret witch. Heidi and her younger brother Henry have been homeschooled their entire lives. This year, their parents have decided to send them to real school, Brewster elementary school. Heidi is in the second grade and Henry is in kindergarten. Heidi is very skeptical of school, but Henry is really excited. At school, Heidi is befriended by Lucy Lancaster, and bullied by mean girl, Melanie Maplethorpe. After a first day full of altercations, like the art room and play practice, Heidi decides that she has had enough. At home, when no one is around, Heidi goes under her bed and pulls out a keepsake box. Inside the keepsake box is a golden medallion with a huge W engraved on the front. Also in the keepsake box is a black leather book titled, The Witches of Westwick. Armed with her medallion and book of spells, Heidi is ready to get her revenge.
Heidi Heckelbeck has a secret is the first book in this new children’s witch series. The author of this series, Wanda Coven, does a wonderful job creating this story. The diction in this story lacks complexity, which makes it an ideal read for beginner readers, and reluctant readers. The words are spaced neatly and legibly on the page, making it easier to read. In addition to that, the paragraphs in this story are relatively small. When paragraphs are chunked like this, it reduces reader’s fatigue. This chapter book was illustrated by Priscilla Burris, who has illustrated numerous books and materials for teachers, students, and parents. The illustrations in this book are simple and serve to decorate the text. They are not too overwhelming and have a cartoon-ish look about them. Almost every page in this book has an illustration which is very helpful for beginner readers, reluctant readers, and visual learners. Some pages are entirely made up of illustrations. These picture breaks are ideal for readers who may get fatigued after prolonged reading.
This fantasy novel about witches is aimed at children from kindergarten to second grade. I believe that is a fairly accurate estimate. The book was a quick and extremely easy read. It is loaded with sight words and lower intensity vocabulary, so virtually any child can read it independently. The content in this book is age appropriate and advanced comprehension skills are not required. What I appreciate the most about this book is the fact that it comes in a series. Personally, I love book series. I have read the Twilight series, the Pretty Little Liars series, Ramona Quimby, Junie B. Jones, etc. Reading books that comes in series is extremely beneficial when it comes to children. The more they read, the more they know, and can explore. This is a relatively new series, it was published in 2012. I have seen it in Barnes and Noble, Target, Walmart, the library and on Google Play. This book series is very affordable about $5 each book. That is a bargain for parents who would like to purchase books for their young readers.
Heidi Heckelbeck has a secret is the first book in this new children’s witch series. The author of this series, Wanda Coven, does a wonderful job creating this story. The diction in this story lacks complexity, which makes it an ideal read for beginner readers, and reluctant readers. The words are spaced neatly and legibly on the page, making it easier to read. In addition to that, the paragraphs in this story are relatively small. When paragraphs are chunked like this, it reduces reader’s fatigue. This chapter book was illustrated by Priscilla Burris, who has illustrated numerous books and materials for teachers, students, and parents. The illustrations in this book are simple and serve to decorate the text. They are not too overwhelming and have a cartoon-ish look about them. Almost every page in this book has an illustration which is very helpful for beginner readers, reluctant readers, and visual learners. Some pages are entirely made up of illustrations. These picture breaks are ideal for readers who may get fatigued after prolonged reading.
This fantasy novel about witches is aimed at children from kindergarten to second grade. I believe that is a fairly accurate estimate. The book was a quick and extremely easy read. It is loaded with sight words and lower intensity vocabulary, so virtually any child can read it independently. The content in this book is age appropriate and advanced comprehension skills are not required. What I appreciate the most about this book is the fact that it comes in a series. Personally, I love book series. I have read the Twilight series, the Pretty Little Liars series, Ramona Quimby, Junie B. Jones, etc. Reading books that comes in series is extremely beneficial when it comes to children. The more they read, the more they know, and can explore. This is a relatively new series, it was published in 2012. I have seen it in Barnes and Noble, Target, Walmart, the library and on Google Play. This book series is very affordable about $5 each book. That is a bargain for parents who would like to purchase books for their young readers.
January 19, 2023
I read this with my 3.5 year old and I really struggled with the themes in the book.
There is a lot of negativity and bullying. The main character hates school and thinks she is too smart for everything. The main antagonist is a bully for no reason whatsoever. The main "friend" has no reason for being sympathetic to the main character.
My kid loves school, so she was confused by why Heidi was always so upset about going to school. The school seems great, except the teachers overlook VERY obvious bullying (except when it is unavoidable for them to ignore it).
The bully is generically awful and no reason is given. She hates Heidi at first glance, calls her names (to the teacher, without any real consequences), ruins her art project (while saying negative things about Heidi's appearance), and lies to a teacher to get Heidi an assignment she doesn't want (the teacher listens to the bully but not to Heidi). It is frustrating and not well formulated.
The "friend" just starts being friends with Heidi without any reason as well. She adopts Heidi, even though Heidi is unpleasant and refuses to speak.
The negativity is rampant throughout the book. Heidi treats her brother (who is honestly the best character) poorly and is always tearing down his happiness and enthusiasm. Heidi resorts to name-calling about her bully, physically attacks her bully, and only speaks about herself and her abilities in the most negative way. She is critical of herself, her art, and everything else.
Also, the dad makes soda and the mom gives "snacks" that are just cookies!
I understand the first book is used to set up the series, but there is no progress in this book at all. It is unpleasant and I don't want to continue reading the rest of the series. It feels like a bad influence on a young reader.
We started reading the Sophie Mouse series at the same time and it is like night and day. I look forward to reading Sophie Mouse. The characters are better, there is real friendship, the characters learn good behaviors in real-world situations, and it is fun.
There is a lot of negativity and bullying. The main character hates school and thinks she is too smart for everything. The main antagonist is a bully for no reason whatsoever. The main "friend" has no reason for being sympathetic to the main character.
My kid loves school, so she was confused by why Heidi was always so upset about going to school. The school seems great, except the teachers overlook VERY obvious bullying (except when it is unavoidable for them to ignore it).
The bully is generically awful and no reason is given. She hates Heidi at first glance, calls her names (to the teacher, without any real consequences), ruins her art project (while saying negative things about Heidi's appearance), and lies to a teacher to get Heidi an assignment she doesn't want (the teacher listens to the bully but not to Heidi). It is frustrating and not well formulated.
The "friend" just starts being friends with Heidi without any reason as well. She adopts Heidi, even though Heidi is unpleasant and refuses to speak.
The negativity is rampant throughout the book. Heidi treats her brother (who is honestly the best character) poorly and is always tearing down his happiness and enthusiasm. Heidi resorts to name-calling about her bully, physically attacks her bully, and only speaks about herself and her abilities in the most negative way. She is critical of herself, her art, and everything else.
Also, the dad makes soda and the mom gives "snacks" that are just cookies!
I understand the first book is used to set up the series, but there is no progress in this book at all. It is unpleasant and I don't want to continue reading the rest of the series. It feels like a bad influence on a young reader.
We started reading the Sophie Mouse series at the same time and it is like night and day. I look forward to reading Sophie Mouse. The characters are better, there is real friendship, the characters learn good behaviors in real-world situations, and it is fun.
March 9, 2021
Booklist Reviews
Heidi has always been taught at home, and she is nervous and grumpy about starting second grade at Brewster Elementary. And it's a not-so-promising beginning when mean-queen Melanie puts Heidi on her radar, taunting her, vandalizing her art project for Mr. Doodlebee, and suggesting she play a tree in the class production of The Wizard of Oz (while Melanie is Dorothy, of course)—and all on the first day! Even though Heidi meets a nice girl named Lucy, she feels she doesn't fit in at school and wishes she never had to return. But sudden inspiration leads her to conjure up a plan for payback and her secret is revealed in the teaser ending. Geared towards new readers, this series opener features simple vocabulary, large and well-spaced text, short chapters, and interspersed black-and-white cartoon-style drawings while sympathetically depicting Heidi's challenges, from dealing with bullies to finding friends. Assorted characters—including Heidi's supportive mom, soda pop–formula inventor dad, and peppy younger brother—add lively touches, and the ending hints of more mischief to come.
January 2, 2022
It’s funny how reading the right book to a child can make them come alive. I had started reading a middle grade novel to my children before bedtime each night. While the book was fantastic, it was far over my five year old’s head. After a few nights of that, I switched over to reading Heidi Hecklebeck Has a Secret to my kids. Instantly, both of my children became engrossed in the story as they laughed and worried along with Heidi. The simplified writing, illustrations, and relatable plot all made it an enriching experience. My kids could understand and enjoy the story. Each night they would ask for more of Heidi Hecklebeck.
As far as the writing and characters go, they were all what you would expect from an early chapter book. The end of the book hints at something larger that might happen as the series continues. You’d better believe that my girls are asking for the next book in the series!
Illustrations – black and white illustrations on almost every page. Very cute and age appropriate.
As far as the writing and characters go, they were all what you would expect from an early chapter book. The end of the book hints at something larger that might happen as the series continues. You’d better believe that my girls are asking for the next book in the series!
Illustrations – black and white illustrations on almost every page. Very cute and age appropriate.
April 5, 2021
This is the first book in a series about a 2nd grade girl named Heidi...who also happens to be a witch. This book centers around Heidi's first day at Brewster Elementary (after being homeschooled in previous years).
SIDE NOTE: There are so few books in this genre (large text, illustrations on almost every page, geared to ages 6-9) so I automatically am grateful to the author and the publisher for creating them. I'd love to see more books in this format.
LANGUAGE/CONTENT:
* Heidi exclaims "merg!" on a few occasions. p3, 17
* dumb p27
* A young boy says that "boogers taste great." p86
* Heidi refers to a girl in her class as a "mean-girl leader." p88
* doofus p99
* A 2nd grade girl says "you are a total Froot Loop" to her brother. p106
* Heidi owns (and, presumably, uses) a Book of Spells. p116
* Heidi intends to cast a spell on a girl who she doesn't like. p118
SIDE NOTE: There are so few books in this genre (large text, illustrations on almost every page, geared to ages 6-9) so I automatically am grateful to the author and the publisher for creating them. I'd love to see more books in this format.
LANGUAGE/CONTENT:
* Heidi exclaims "merg!" on a few occasions. p3, 17
* dumb p27
* A young boy says that "boogers taste great." p86
* Heidi refers to a girl in her class as a "mean-girl leader." p88
* doofus p99
* A 2nd grade girl says "you are a total Froot Loop" to her brother. p106
* Heidi owns (and, presumably, uses) a Book of Spells. p116
* Heidi intends to cast a spell on a girl who she doesn't like. p118
September 28, 2017
Heidi Heckelbeck has always been homeschooled, but now she’s going to public school for the first time in second grade. And it is not a good experience. There’s a mean girl, a play she has to perform in even though she doesn’t want to, and already knowing what they are learning because her mother taught her at home. I think the Heidi Heckelbeck books would have been very useful for my middle son when he went to public school for the first time in second grade and hated every minute of the half year he attended. The end was extremely abrupt and left off on a cliffhanger which my boys and I did not like. I recommend this book to young readers ready for chapter books. Bonus if it’s a young reader transitioning from homeschooling to public school for the first time.
June 9, 2022
Heidi is not looking forward to starting school at the local elementary school. She wants to continue doing school at home with her mom with the treehouse classroom, but her brother, Henry is ready. So, she goes, where the day is kinda rough. While she does make a new friend in Lucy, one girl is mean to her and ruins her self-portrait and then tricks their teacher into giving her a role in the 2nd grade play, The Wizard of Oz. When she gets home, she comes up with the perfect idea to implement the next day at school using her secret powers as a witch! I thought this series was about a regular girl. The secret is only revealed in the last chapter, so it builds excitement for the rest of the series.
May 20, 2018
I really liked Heidi because she wore her favorite outfit to her first day of school as a second grader: Black Jean skirt, black tights, green top, and black sneakers. (See cover of book) She just seemed spunky because her favorite outfit was mostly black when most characters would be all about bright colors. But anyways. Heidi has never been to school before. So she’s never dealt with a bully. She never even did anything to her bully but be assigned to sit next to her in class! Heidi has a secret way to get back at her bully. But it’s not by being nice or ignoring her... Twist at the end, to be totally honest!!!
December 22, 2021
Heidi doesn’t want to go to school. She and her mom have been doing just fine homeschooling. But now Mom thinks she should start second grade at school. Needless to say, Heidi isn’t very enthusiastic, but brother Henry (just starting kindergarten) is annoyingly enthusiastic.
Heidi runs into a mean girl (Melanie) right away. But there is also Lucy, who is very nice, sitting with Heidi at lunch and asking her to play with her at recess. But Melanie just continues to pick on Heidi, so Heidi devises a plan that involves a special book.
Will it work? You have to read the 2nd book to find out.
Heidi runs into a mean girl (Melanie) right away. But there is also Lucy, who is very nice, sitting with Heidi at lunch and asking her to play with her at recess. But Melanie just continues to pick on Heidi, so Heidi devises a plan that involves a special book.
Will it work? You have to read the 2nd book to find out.
June 10, 2022
Wow, new favorite series!
I love how the author took what could have been a tired old trope and found something fresh and interesting to do. I love how Heidi manages her problems, and the fact that she doesn't give up. She tries, even when things are hard. The ending of this book was especially fun, with a nice twist to keep the readers interested. You can't help but want to keep reading the next book when you see where this one takes you.
Overall, Heidi is a breath of fresh air in book series for this age group. I shared Heidi with my husband and even he liked her, which is saying something. I'm definitely in to read more in this series!
I love how the author took what could have been a tired old trope and found something fresh and interesting to do. I love how Heidi manages her problems, and the fact that she doesn't give up. She tries, even when things are hard. The ending of this book was especially fun, with a nice twist to keep the readers interested. You can't help but want to keep reading the next book when you see where this one takes you.
Overall, Heidi is a breath of fresh air in book series for this age group. I shared Heidi with my husband and even he liked her, which is saying something. I'm definitely in to read more in this series!
August 7, 2019
I am studying chapter books about young girls. This one was well written with interesting characters but it wasn't a finished book. It was really an introduction to a problem and a tiny reveal of Heidi's secret. I'll read the next but I felt a bit cheated. A person should order all of them from the library at once. :)
Being written in 2012, it had only one diverse character. I have come to expect more. How hard would it be for the principal or teacher to have been a diverse character? I'll find it interesting to see if as the series goes on more diverse characters are introduced.
Being written in 2012, it had only one diverse character. I have come to expect more. How hard would it be for the principal or teacher to have been a diverse character? I'll find it interesting to see if as the series goes on more diverse characters are introduced.
May 17, 2017
I thought this beginner chapter book was sort of misleading in terms of the summary, the whole her being a witch doesn't even enter the story until the very end. Heidi's family and teachers at school seemed completely fake happy happy happy that it was hard to believe. The ending just sort of dropped off. I would really only recommend this to a girl who might be starting school for the first time or going to a new school. Other than that, not really a fan.
July 11, 2020
This felt like an odd start to a series about a girl who is a witch given that you only find out she’s a witch in the last couple pages. The rest of the book is a somewhat slow story about Heidi being really grumpy throughout her first day of second grade and a classmate being mean to her for no reason other than she’s new to the class. Violet and I are hoping for more depth of story and character in the next three books I bought as part of a box set.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2021
This was a cute book that set the stage nicely for the series! Heidi has to go to public school for the first time and shes not super excited. She meets a mean girl named Melanie and takes part in the school play. In the very end we find out she's a witch. There's really not much that happens in this one as we're just getting the stage set and I thought the girls were rude to each other, especially for being so young, but otherwise I enjoyed it.
December 31, 2021
My daughter loved this book. I, however, wish the author had kept witchcraft out of the story. It is so peripheral to anything that happens until the very end. We have only read book #1 and book #15 in the series, but in both cases, problems could have been solved without the last minute additional of spells. Otherwise, the story was well written for the 1-3rd graders and very relatable (mean girls, school anxiety, etc).
June 25, 2024
This book wasn't what I was anticipating. I understood it was about a girl who is actually a witch posing as a regular 2nd grade student. I think the series will go in that direction as the series continues, but magic wasn't introduced until the end of the book. This information helps me know better how to recommend this series to students.
2024 52 Book Club reading challenge #48 The word "secret" in the title
2024 52 Book Club reading challenge #48 The word "secret" in the title
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