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Heidi sequel #3
Heidis Children
Vintage paperback
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1939
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
January 26, 2023
Cute little sequel of the story of Heidi. Glad I have read them all by now. It is an easy read and also more for children, then for grownups. I did enjoy it to read what happened to Heidi. Even though it was written by another author the writing style is really close to the original author. It gets 3 points.
June 29, 2010
I love this book, because it finishes telling about what happened to Heidi --it is a sequel written by a different author who also wrote Heidi Grows Up. Tritten deftly weaves pieces of the original book into this charming sequel,(which includes a bit of a mystery), and stays true to the characterization of the original. My original copy fell apart from being read so many times, luckily I was able to find a replacement of the same edition.
July 7, 2012
If you read and loved Johanna Spyri's classic HEIDI (written first in 1870 though not published for another ten years or so), perhaps you were lucky enough to discover HEIDI GROWS UP (HEIDI #2) and HEIDI's CHILDREN (HEIDI #3) written by Spyri's translator Charles Tritten.
Tritten explains in a forward that there were so many adoring fans around the globe writing with questions about what happened next to Heidi and Peter and Grandfather that Tritten was inspired to carry the characters forward in time while keeping to the spirit of Spyri's original story.
In this third and rather satisfying book, we very quickly are reminded that Heidi "to be sure... was no longer the little girl of yesterday, but she had kept her gaiety, her passion for nature, her childlike excitement for the changing seasons."
In other words, Heidi may be grown up, but she is true to the nature of the girl whom readers first met. In this book, she is married, living in Dorfli with Peter, Peter's mother Brigitta, Grandfather (Alm Uncle), and Jamy, the boarding schoolteacher -- all in the manor house Heidi inherited from the good doctor.
Heidi, although expecting her own child some months hence, actually slips deftly into the idealized mother figure role very quickly in this book when Jamy's 9 year old sister Marta is welcomed to Heidi's household. Marta is the child at the center of this book now that Heidi is adult.
Marta had written a letter from Paris that showed how desperate was her need for love, understanding and nurturing since her grandmother had died.
Heidi:"I've always wanted a little girl to mother..."
Jamy: " If you can give Marta part of your faith in these mountains and the Lord that made them, that will help."
Marta develops a key relationship with Alm Uncle (Grandfather) that leads to illuminating his painful emotional past he has kept secret all these years ---and binds all the characters together in a satisfying way.
This book does have a moral and religious flavor that some modern readers might find unrealistic or too overt, but as an older adult who has memories of my own grandparents and others born in the 19th century, religion and character-building intertwined more easily (especially in stories) and was a more accepted/expected aspect of daily life.
The lessons from Marta's grandmother and the Grandfather's lives are spelled out by Heidi for Marta (and young readers): Heve courage to do what you know is right (unlike the too fearful grandmother) and be more ready to forgive (unlike the late-to-forgive Grandfather).
Marta is also encouraged to sing the hymn/ say the prayer taught to her first by her grandmother... she needs repetition and time to understand and absorb its messages of asking the Dear Spirit for a kinder heart, stronger will, broader mind, and purer life.
And, yes, if readers wonder: Heidi and Peter have twins whose names are suggested by grandfather (and accepted by Heidi and Peter):Tobias and Marta. The significance of this naming is not fully clear until Grandfather's secret is better understood -- late in the book.
Tritten explains in a forward that there were so many adoring fans around the globe writing with questions about what happened next to Heidi and Peter and Grandfather that Tritten was inspired to carry the characters forward in time while keeping to the spirit of Spyri's original story.
In this third and rather satisfying book, we very quickly are reminded that Heidi "to be sure... was no longer the little girl of yesterday, but she had kept her gaiety, her passion for nature, her childlike excitement for the changing seasons."
In other words, Heidi may be grown up, but she is true to the nature of the girl whom readers first met. In this book, she is married, living in Dorfli with Peter, Peter's mother Brigitta, Grandfather (Alm Uncle), and Jamy, the boarding schoolteacher -- all in the manor house Heidi inherited from the good doctor.
Heidi, although expecting her own child some months hence, actually slips deftly into the idealized mother figure role very quickly in this book when Jamy's 9 year old sister Marta is welcomed to Heidi's household. Marta is the child at the center of this book now that Heidi is adult.
Marta had written a letter from Paris that showed how desperate was her need for love, understanding and nurturing since her grandmother had died.
Heidi:"I've always wanted a little girl to mother..."
Jamy: " If you can give Marta part of your faith in these mountains and the Lord that made them, that will help."
Marta develops a key relationship with Alm Uncle (Grandfather) that leads to illuminating his painful emotional past he has kept secret all these years ---and binds all the characters together in a satisfying way.
This book does have a moral and religious flavor that some modern readers might find unrealistic or too overt, but as an older adult who has memories of my own grandparents and others born in the 19th century, religion and character-building intertwined more easily (especially in stories) and was a more accepted/expected aspect of daily life.
The lessons from Marta's grandmother and the Grandfather's lives are spelled out by Heidi for Marta (and young readers): Heve courage to do what you know is right (unlike the too fearful grandmother) and be more ready to forgive (unlike the late-to-forgive Grandfather).
Marta is also encouraged to sing the hymn/ say the prayer taught to her first by her grandmother... she needs repetition and time to understand and absorb its messages of asking the Dear Spirit for a kinder heart, stronger will, broader mind, and purer life.
And, yes, if readers wonder: Heidi and Peter have twins whose names are suggested by grandfather (and accepted by Heidi and Peter):Tobias and Marta. The significance of this naming is not fully clear until Grandfather's secret is better understood -- late in the book.
March 30, 2012
Contented sigh. I very much enjoy the grown-up Heidi that Tritten gives us. His first sequel (Heidi Grows Up) was good but not great. Plot was a little meandering. This second sequel has a better plot and some of the same wisdom and faith found in the original Heidi.
October 13, 2009
A gift from my Grandmother Cassidy the year she died.
June 28, 2019
Growing up, my grandmother had all three of the Heidi novels, so I didn't realize that the two sequels were spurious until adulthood. I found this one, the third, at a FOL sale and picked it up immediately.
I loved the re-read and found that I only remembered whispers of the story.
What really struck me was the picture of folklore, cultural traditions, and history that Heidi and her family live.
I want to find the middle one now.
I loved the re-read and found that I only remembered whispers of the story.
What really struck me was the picture of folklore, cultural traditions, and history that Heidi and her family live.
I want to find the middle one now.
May 5, 2025
Dorfli was still enveloped in a mantle of snow, but the baker, returning from Maienfeld in his wagon, reported that down in the valley it was already spring.
Heidi's Children is, I believe, the third and final Heidi book. Heidi Grows Up, the second novel, ended triumphantly with Heidi wedding Peter, the goat herding boy she first met when she was just five. This third novel opens with Heidi just a few months away from giving birth to her first child.
Heidi and Peter live with Heidi's grandfather and Peter's mother in the village of Dorfli. (During the summer months, they retreat higher up in the mountains, though the grandfather's original hermit-hut is no more.) As they have the largest house in the village, they also have the local school teacher, Heidi's old school chum, Jamy, living with them. The novel opens with Jamy making a request of Heidi and Peter. She wants them to welcome her younger sister, Marta, into their home. It seems Marta is too difficult for her own parents to handle, and they essentially don't want to have her around...at all. Marta, of course, has figured all this out. Peter has his doubts initially, let the reader never forget how jealous and possessive he can be with Heidi, but eventually he agrees to the plan.
So Marta is the "first" of Heidi's "children" to arrive. A few months later Heidi welcomes twins into the world. A baby boy. A baby girl. And grandfather is there to welcome this next generation. He even suggests the names for both the babies.
This naming scene is funny, in my opinion. For it sees just about everyone from the village coming into their home to give advice and share gossip.
"Well, what do you think of them, Peterli?" his mother asked after he had studied their features for some time without making any comment.
"As alike as two strawberries," he answered, "and just as red. How long will it be before their eyes open?"
"They aren't kittens," laughed Heidi, looking up from her pillows. "Their eyes have already opened and they're as blue as the sky itself. They're sleeping now. Little babies have to sleep."
"Has the Alm-Uncle seen them?" asked Peter his face still thoughtful.
"Oh, yes," answered Heidi. "He was so pleased but he escaped to his own room again as soon as the neighbors came. Their chatter bothers him as it does me, but I can't ask them to leave."
"I'll ask them if you want me to," announced Marta, her eyes still fiery. "They're out there in the living room saying horrid things about everybody in the family and suggesting the most dreadful names for the babies. You won't name them anything they suggest, will you?"
"I swear it!" said Peter, raising his hand as though taking an oath. "Whatever they suggest, the babies shall surely be named something different."
Old age had not affected the Alm-Uncle's hearing, for suddenly he called out so loudly that those in Heidi's bedroom and even the neighbors in the living room beyond could hear it, "If they're her surprise, why not name the girl baby after the child?"
"After me?" said Marta, hardly believing her ears, for the Alm-Uncle had never once spoken her name all the time she had been there.
"As you say, Grandfather!" Heidi called back. "But what shall we name the boy?"
"Your father was an upright man, Heidi. It might be well to remember him."
Heidi had not thought of naming the boy anything but Peter. But since Peter objected to that, why not Tobias? She called again, "Very well, Grandfather. He shall be our little Tobi. The neighbors shall hear at the church what names we have chosen." (84-85)
Marta, Jamy's younger sister, is the real heroine of Heidi's Children. It is her story--her emotional and spiritual journey--that is told within the pages of the book. Her developing relationship with the grandfather, her love for Heidi and Peter, her finding a place to belong, etc. Her story isn't always a happy one. For she's still broken. She's mourning the loss of her grandmother. And she definitely hasn't healed from being completely rejected and abandoned by her parents.
The grandfather also plays a big part in this one. Though I don't want to spoil anything by sharing those details here. Let's just say that this is the first Heidi book where the reader catches glimpses of his past.
I did like Heidi's Children. I liked Marta. I liked how she was able to form a good relationship with the Grandfather. I liked how he was able to help her and reach her in a way that her own parents couldn't or wouldn't. It was nice to see him sharing Bible stories with her, for example. And it was nice how he helped fix her cross necklace.
Heidi's Children is, I believe, the third and final Heidi book. Heidi Grows Up, the second novel, ended triumphantly with Heidi wedding Peter, the goat herding boy she first met when she was just five. This third novel opens with Heidi just a few months away from giving birth to her first child.
Heidi and Peter live with Heidi's grandfather and Peter's mother in the village of Dorfli. (During the summer months, they retreat higher up in the mountains, though the grandfather's original hermit-hut is no more.) As they have the largest house in the village, they also have the local school teacher, Heidi's old school chum, Jamy, living with them. The novel opens with Jamy making a request of Heidi and Peter. She wants them to welcome her younger sister, Marta, into their home. It seems Marta is too difficult for her own parents to handle, and they essentially don't want to have her around...at all. Marta, of course, has figured all this out. Peter has his doubts initially, let the reader never forget how jealous and possessive he can be with Heidi, but eventually he agrees to the plan.
So Marta is the "first" of Heidi's "children" to arrive. A few months later Heidi welcomes twins into the world. A baby boy. A baby girl. And grandfather is there to welcome this next generation. He even suggests the names for both the babies.
This naming scene is funny, in my opinion. For it sees just about everyone from the village coming into their home to give advice and share gossip.
"Well, what do you think of them, Peterli?" his mother asked after he had studied their features for some time without making any comment.
"As alike as two strawberries," he answered, "and just as red. How long will it be before their eyes open?"
"They aren't kittens," laughed Heidi, looking up from her pillows. "Their eyes have already opened and they're as blue as the sky itself. They're sleeping now. Little babies have to sleep."
"Has the Alm-Uncle seen them?" asked Peter his face still thoughtful.
"Oh, yes," answered Heidi. "He was so pleased but he escaped to his own room again as soon as the neighbors came. Their chatter bothers him as it does me, but I can't ask them to leave."
"I'll ask them if you want me to," announced Marta, her eyes still fiery. "They're out there in the living room saying horrid things about everybody in the family and suggesting the most dreadful names for the babies. You won't name them anything they suggest, will you?"
"I swear it!" said Peter, raising his hand as though taking an oath. "Whatever they suggest, the babies shall surely be named something different."
Old age had not affected the Alm-Uncle's hearing, for suddenly he called out so loudly that those in Heidi's bedroom and even the neighbors in the living room beyond could hear it, "If they're her surprise, why not name the girl baby after the child?"
"After me?" said Marta, hardly believing her ears, for the Alm-Uncle had never once spoken her name all the time she had been there.
"As you say, Grandfather!" Heidi called back. "But what shall we name the boy?"
"Your father was an upright man, Heidi. It might be well to remember him."
Heidi had not thought of naming the boy anything but Peter. But since Peter objected to that, why not Tobias? She called again, "Very well, Grandfather. He shall be our little Tobi. The neighbors shall hear at the church what names we have chosen." (84-85)
Marta, Jamy's younger sister, is the real heroine of Heidi's Children. It is her story--her emotional and spiritual journey--that is told within the pages of the book. Her developing relationship with the grandfather, her love for Heidi and Peter, her finding a place to belong, etc. Her story isn't always a happy one. For she's still broken. She's mourning the loss of her grandmother. And she definitely hasn't healed from being completely rejected and abandoned by her parents.
The grandfather also plays a big part in this one. Though I don't want to spoil anything by sharing those details here. Let's just say that this is the first Heidi book where the reader catches glimpses of his past.
I did like Heidi's Children. I liked Marta. I liked how she was able to form a good relationship with the Grandfather. I liked how he was able to help her and reach her in a way that her own parents couldn't or wouldn't. It was nice to see him sharing Bible stories with her, for example. And it was nice how he helped fix her cross necklace.
September 26, 2021
Heidi is pregnant with her first child. Heidi and Peter have the village schoolteacher boarding with them, and the teacher asks if her little sister can come and stay with them and attend the school. The child, Marta, is so unhappy at her own home, and she blossoms under the love and affection that Heidi gives her. But will Marta get along with Heidi's grandfather? The old Alm-Uncle is still hiding secrets about his past that might change the family forever.
This book was okay. If you really love Heidi, then I think you would enjoy it. I like the original Heidi story much better. This book just didn't have the same charm as the original story by Johana Spyri. The writing is good, and the characters are interesting. All the elements of a good story are there, but I never really got swept away into the story the way I do with Spyri's other books.
Maybe the horrendously ugly illustrations had something to do with it. I have never in my life seen such ugly illustrations! The people's faces look as distorted and strange. People's eyes are too big for their head, or their arms are too long for their body! It just looks awful!
This book was okay. If you really love Heidi, then I think you would enjoy it. I like the original Heidi story much better. This book just didn't have the same charm as the original story by Johana Spyri. The writing is good, and the characters are interesting. All the elements of a good story are there, but I never really got swept away into the story the way I do with Spyri's other books.
Maybe the horrendously ugly illustrations had something to do with it. I have never in my life seen such ugly illustrations! The people's faces look as distorted and strange. People's eyes are too big for their head, or their arms are too long for their body! It just looks awful!
March 21, 2021
rating: 3.5 (probably 4 if my young self were doing the rating)
The story focuses on Marta with Heidi playing a supporting role, which makes it more appealing for young readers, I'm sure. In addition to introducing a new character, there's also the 'suspense' of awaiting a baby, and G'pa's story comes to the foreground.
Strong religious fabric -- appropriate for the time and place.
I haven't read the other sequels by Tritten but may do so.
The story focuses on Marta with Heidi playing a supporting role, which makes it more appealing for young readers, I'm sure. In addition to introducing a new character, there's also the 'suspense' of awaiting a baby, and G'pa's story comes to the foreground.
Strong religious fabric -- appropriate for the time and place.
I haven't read the other sequels by Tritten but may do so.
July 30, 2013
One of my favorite books when I was a little girl was Heidi. I even enjoyed the Shirley Temple movie version of the story, even though it was not that close to the original.
For my tenth birthday, I received Heidi Grows Up. It was so much fun to read Tritten's continuation of the beloved story.
I had no idea that there was a second sequel until about four months ago when I read Barbara Fisher's March House blog, highlighting her latest find, Heidi's Children. While I couldn't afford to send to England for Ms. Fisher's pristine copy, I did find an old,beat-up library copy in readable condition, for dirt cheap on Amazon.
This book is just as sweet and wholesome as its predecessors. There is a strong Christian theme running throughout which I found comforting rather than preachy.
Marta, Jamy's sister, is an anxious child, prone to bouts of hysteria. She is unsure of herself and her place in the world since the grandmother who raised her has died and her parents are wealthy party people.
Heidi and her grandfather try to teach Marta the power of prayer as well as two phrases which really rang home with me, "Have courage" and "Be ready to forgive!" If you have been following this blog for awhile, you may remember that I have struggled with both of these issues (The Year of No Fear, My One Word for 2013: Courage). It was nice to see a fresh reminder from so many years ago!!
I think this book (in fact, all 3 of them) would be a fine addition to any pre-teen's library. The beautiful descriptions of the Swiss countryside, combined with the look inside Heidi's family, make for a charming piece of historical children's literature. I give Heidi's Children four milk cans!!!
For my tenth birthday, I received Heidi Grows Up. It was so much fun to read Tritten's continuation of the beloved story.
I had no idea that there was a second sequel until about four months ago when I read Barbara Fisher's March House blog, highlighting her latest find, Heidi's Children. While I couldn't afford to send to England for Ms. Fisher's pristine copy, I did find an old,beat-up library copy in readable condition, for dirt cheap on Amazon.
This book is just as sweet and wholesome as its predecessors. There is a strong Christian theme running throughout which I found comforting rather than preachy.
Marta, Jamy's sister, is an anxious child, prone to bouts of hysteria. She is unsure of herself and her place in the world since the grandmother who raised her has died and her parents are wealthy party people.
Heidi and her grandfather try to teach Marta the power of prayer as well as two phrases which really rang home with me, "Have courage" and "Be ready to forgive!" If you have been following this blog for awhile, you may remember that I have struggled with both of these issues (The Year of No Fear, My One Word for 2013: Courage). It was nice to see a fresh reminder from so many years ago!!
I think this book (in fact, all 3 of them) would be a fine addition to any pre-teen's library. The beautiful descriptions of the Swiss countryside, combined with the look inside Heidi's family, make for a charming piece of historical children's literature. I give Heidi's Children four milk cans!!!
May 2, 2020
Bought for me by my aunt for xmas it was a lovely read and you finally had a full history of the grandfather. I still have the trilogy to this day and have read it as an adult some years ago now. I keep it for the memories it envokes of a treasure bought by my aunt.
May 27, 2015
The plot was compelling. The dialog was unrealistic. It was a good story about Heidi's life with Peter and the demise of the Alm Uncle.
January 26, 2022
I just love the original Heidi so much, but this addition to the story by Charles Tritten (her translator) is just as charming.
I have enjoyed it many times. The family scenes with Heidi, Grandfather, Peter and the children are satisfying to read and there is a mystery!!!
I have enjoyed it many times. The family scenes with Heidi, Grandfather, Peter and the children are satisfying to read and there is a mystery!!!
August 18, 2016
This is a repeat of my review for Heidi Grows Up
I had completely forgotten that the sequelae to Heidi were written by someone other than Johanna Spyri. I approached a re-read with caution and rediscovered that Charles Tritten was Spyri's translator and a personal friend and that alone made it more of a sequel and less of a cashing in on a famous book kind of thing. It reads pretty faithfully to the original - though Peter seems to have grown a few brain cells in the interval - and I take it kindly that Tritten says he wrote to two books because children were asking for the story and Spyri herself would never have refused any child's request, especially after her only son died. The simple morality that flows through Heidi survives and into the next one too.
I had completely forgotten that the sequelae to Heidi were written by someone other than Johanna Spyri. I approached a re-read with caution and rediscovered that Charles Tritten was Spyri's translator and a personal friend and that alone made it more of a sequel and less of a cashing in on a famous book kind of thing. It reads pretty faithfully to the original - though Peter seems to have grown a few brain cells in the interval - and I take it kindly that Tritten says he wrote to two books because children were asking for the story and Spyri herself would never have refused any child's request, especially after her only son died. The simple morality that flows through Heidi survives and into the next one too.
January 10, 2016
This books have something that always make me feel at home! Easy to read and full of beautiful moments when we can see how much Heidi has grown up, it is surely a great continuation for everyone who want to know what happened with that amazing girl and all her companions!! It is also full of new dicovers about her beloved grandpa! So, if you love Heidi and want to know more about her, 'Heidi and Peter' and this book would be perfect for you!
February 26, 2017
I remember reading this waaay back in elementary school and absolutely loving it. But somehow HEIDI'S CHILDREN didn't hold up through adulthood. This book focuses more on Marta than on the characters we come to love in HEIDI, and while 10-year-old-me liked her well enough to check this book out of the school library again and again, 25-year-old-me mainly just thought she was annoying. A bit disappointing, but not enough to completely ruin my enjoyment.
November 12, 2021
I read this as a child and was thrilled to discover it in a second hand bookstore. Heidi and Peter are now married and expecting a child. A lot of the story centres around Marta, the younger sister of Heidi’d friend Jamy, who comes to live with them. Marta is portrayed so well. There is a convenient storyline which does seem a little far fetched to read as an adult but it didn’t detract from this lovely book at all.
January 20, 2008
I picked this baby at my local libaries book sale last year. Perhaps not a work of deep and astounding fiction, it was still a fun read, and enjoyable to return to a character from my childhood and find her grown up, but unchanged in character.
August 5, 2008
I thought I had read this years ago, but if I did, I had not remembered what an incredible retcon it is!
Fun read, but not nearly as good as the original.
Fun read, but not nearly as good as the original.
Want to read
January 18, 2010I hope this book will make me happy!
August 1, 2013
More about Jamy's sister from the previous sequel. I guess another kid to get to know the grown-up Heidi, Peter and now frail Grandfather to get the story moving.
April 5, 2014
The last of the two "Heidi" sequels written by Frau Spyri's English translator. It's worth seeking out as unfortunately It is currently out of print.
December 31, 2014
I think I could read my daughters anything if I just put the word "Heidi" in every now and then and they'd love it, so strong is her appeal. But really, this wasn't great.
January 10, 2015
Lovely continuation of the Heidi story. All characters are very likable,and the story is very sweet without being too cutesy.
February 29, 2016
I love the Heidi series - the first novels I ever read. The copies I have were my Mother's from her childhood, so old and very treasured.
May 21, 2016
It wasn't a bad read, but I think because the writing is obviously different, it just doesn't have the sweetness and star quality that Heidi had.
September 1, 2016
really good and of course exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 9, 2017
i love reading too my son. and he can read it today his kids. easy read.
June 22, 2023
Any story about Heidi will always bring back nostalgia
January 3, 2023
Years ago, I held back from checking out Heidi Grows Up. I wasn't too keen on the idea of reading anything about Heidi that wasn't written by Johanna Spyri, the author who originated the classic character.
Even so, I wound up liking that sequel written by Spyri's translator, Charles Tritten. I didn't enjoy it as much as Spyri's novel Heidi, but Tritten's sequel was still a delightful read for me, in the spirit of old-fashioned children's fiction.
In regard to this third book, I finally satisfied my curiosity to see Tritten's depiction of Heidi as a wife and mother. She's the same giving person but more mature, one who's gradually been shaped by trials along with joys. My favorite quote from Heidi the woman:
"We may learn through the mistakes of others. We don't always need to wait until we have hurt someone dear to us."
Yet, even as the author declares in the introduction that since Heidi's wedding day in the previous book, she has even happier days going forward...this isn't that happy of a story. Yes, I'm glad that Heidi's marriage and family life isn't depicted as a fairy tale with nary a care or disagreement ever after. But Heidi's unofficial adoptive daughter, Marta (who's actually the principal character of this story), isn't a warm, inviting, inspiring light as young Heidi was.
Both of them had hard starts in life, but in Marta's case, she's prone to throw tantrums. Her behavior worsens after she suffers an additional great loss in this book, and much of her experience is on the downbeat side. As for her more pleasant times, they felt cursory and fell fairly flat to me.
Heidi's birth children, the twins, grow from babies to tots with relatively little effect on the plot for most of the book, and my mild interest in the story declined. The edition I read was 240 pages; I nearly gave up after 100.
These days, I hardly ever "push through" novels I'm not enjoying. However, given my long history with Heidi and her people, it was worth it for me to hang on in this case, to eventually find out a critical secret belonging to Heidi's beloved grandfather. Reading about him in this book was also rather sad, but even after the previous stories, he's still in need of some redemption here. His character gets that redemption at last—in a bittersweet way.
I hear tell that Tritten wrote two more books about Heidi and/or her family, one of which may have been translated into English only recently. But for the foreseeable future, I'm all right with letting my reading about Heidi end here.
That is, unless I ever reread Spyri's novel and maybe the second book again at some point. And the 1993 Harmony Gold television miniseries about young Heidi is still one of my favorite stories to watch again and again (via DVD).
Even so, I wound up liking that sequel written by Spyri's translator, Charles Tritten. I didn't enjoy it as much as Spyri's novel Heidi, but Tritten's sequel was still a delightful read for me, in the spirit of old-fashioned children's fiction.
In regard to this third book, I finally satisfied my curiosity to see Tritten's depiction of Heidi as a wife and mother. She's the same giving person but more mature, one who's gradually been shaped by trials along with joys. My favorite quote from Heidi the woman:
"We may learn through the mistakes of others. We don't always need to wait until we have hurt someone dear to us."
Yet, even as the author declares in the introduction that since Heidi's wedding day in the previous book, she has even happier days going forward...this isn't that happy of a story. Yes, I'm glad that Heidi's marriage and family life isn't depicted as a fairy tale with nary a care or disagreement ever after. But Heidi's unofficial adoptive daughter, Marta (who's actually the principal character of this story), isn't a warm, inviting, inspiring light as young Heidi was.
Both of them had hard starts in life, but in Marta's case, she's prone to throw tantrums. Her behavior worsens after she suffers an additional great loss in this book, and much of her experience is on the downbeat side. As for her more pleasant times, they felt cursory and fell fairly flat to me.
Heidi's birth children, the twins, grow from babies to tots with relatively little effect on the plot for most of the book, and my mild interest in the story declined. The edition I read was 240 pages; I nearly gave up after 100.
These days, I hardly ever "push through" novels I'm not enjoying. However, given my long history with Heidi and her people, it was worth it for me to hang on in this case, to eventually find out a critical secret belonging to Heidi's beloved grandfather. Reading about him in this book was also rather sad, but even after the previous stories, he's still in need of some redemption here. His character gets that redemption at last—in a bittersweet way.
I hear tell that Tritten wrote two more books about Heidi and/or her family, one of which may have been translated into English only recently. But for the foreseeable future, I'm all right with letting my reading about Heidi end here.
That is, unless I ever reread Spyri's novel and maybe the second book again at some point. And the 1993 Harmony Gold television miniseries about young Heidi is still one of my favorite stories to watch again and again (via DVD).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews