Henry Reed (fictional character)
Encyclopedia
Henry Reed is the main character and narrator of a series of five children's novels
by Keith Robertson. The first four novels were illustrated by Robert McCloskey
.
Four of the five novels share a similar premise: Henry, the son of an American diplomat
, lives abroad with his parents. He spends summer vacation with his aunt and uncle in the small town of Grover's Corner, New Jersey
, in the same house where his mother grew up. (Uncle Al is Henry's mother's brother.) Henry is a serious, entrepreneur
ial boy, and most of the books concern his efforts to earn money by starting some kind of business. All of the novels are told as a series of Henry's journal
entries recounting his day-by-day adventures throughout the summer.
Margaret "Midge" Glass, a year younger than Henry, is the only person in the neighborhood close to his age. She becomes his friend and business partner throughout the series. Midge is somewhat tomboyish and more spontaneous and free-spirited than Henry, which he sometimes finds annoying. Their relationship sometimes resembles a screwball comedy
minus the romance.
In all of the books, events spiral out of control, leading to chaotic and humorous misadventures. Henry and Midge are usually the unintentional cause of these adventures, although they're not deliberately mischievous.
, paperback reissue ISBN 0-14-034144-7), 13-year-old Henry meets his aunt Mabel and uncle Al; adopts a stray beagle
, Agony; and makes friends with Midge. Henry turns an old family barn
into the headquarters for Henry Reed, Inc., a research service. Henry attempts to make money by drilling for oil
, hunting for truffles, and experimenting with a homemade weather balloon
, among other efforts. His main foils throughout the book are Mr. and Mrs. Apple, who live in the house next door and have an extreme aversion to anyone entering their yard.
The second book in the series, Henry Reed's Journey (1963
, paperback reissue ISBN 0-14-034145-5), is the only one not set in Grover's Corner. Instead, Henry meets Midge and her parents in San Francisco, California
, and they drive across the United States
to New Jersey.
The third book, Henry Reed's Baby-Sitting Service (1966
, paperback reissue ISBN 0-14-034146-3), is set during the same summer. Henry and Midge decide to become baby-sitters. The Apples have moved away, so Henry and Midge have to deal with the older, disdainful children who moved in next door.
Henry Reed's Big Show (1970
, paperback reissue ISBN 0-440-43570-6), the fourth book, involves Henry and Midge's efforts to become showbiz entrepreneurs.
In Henry Reed's Think Tank (1986
, paperback reissue ISBN 0-440-40104-6), the fifth book, Henry and Midge return to their roots and set up a think tank
to help solve the problems of Grover's Corner residents. This book is set just after the events of Big Show. This is the only book in which Robertson reverts Henry's age — he had gone from 13 to 15 in the previous books, but Robertson makes him 13 again in this novel, presumably to keep him interesting for the younger readers for whom the books were written.
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
by Keith Robertson. The first four novels were illustrated by Robert McCloskey
Robert McCloskey
Robert McCloskey was an American author and illustrator of children's books. McCloskey wrote and illustrated eight books, two of which won the Caldecott Medal, the American Library Association's annual award of distinction for children's book illustration.Many of McCloskey's books were set on the...
.
Four of the five novels share a similar premise: Henry, the son of an American diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, lives abroad with his parents. He spends summer vacation with his aunt and uncle in the small town of Grover's Corner, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, in the same house where his mother grew up. (Uncle Al is Henry's mother's brother.) Henry is a serious, entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
ial boy, and most of the books concern his efforts to earn money by starting some kind of business. All of the novels are told as a series of Henry's journal
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
entries recounting his day-by-day adventures throughout the summer.
Margaret "Midge" Glass, a year younger than Henry, is the only person in the neighborhood close to his age. She becomes his friend and business partner throughout the series. Midge is somewhat tomboyish and more spontaneous and free-spirited than Henry, which he sometimes finds annoying. Their relationship sometimes resembles a screwball comedy
Screwball Comedy
Screwball Comedy is an album by the Japanese band Soul Flower Union. The album found the band going into a simpler, harder-rocking direction, after several heavily world-music influenced albums.-Track listing:...
minus the romance.
In all of the books, events spiral out of control, leading to chaotic and humorous misadventures. Henry and Midge are usually the unintentional cause of these adventures, although they're not deliberately mischievous.
The Henry Reed books
In the first book, Henry Reed, Inc. (19581958 in literature
The year 1958 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*August 18 - Vladimir Nabokov's controversial novel Lolita is published in United States.*First volume of The Civil War by Shelby Foote is published....
, paperback reissue ISBN 0-14-034144-7), 13-year-old Henry meets his aunt Mabel and uncle Al; adopts a stray beagle
Beagle
The Beagle is a breed of small to medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound, but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game...
, Agony; and makes friends with Midge. Henry turns an old family barn
Barn
A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...
into the headquarters for Henry Reed, Inc., a research service. Henry attempts to make money by drilling for oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
, hunting for truffles, and experimenting with a homemade weather balloon
Weather balloon
A weather or sounding balloon is a balloon which carries instruments aloft to send back information on atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity and wind speed by means of a small, expendable measuring device called a radiosonde...
, among other efforts. His main foils throughout the book are Mr. and Mrs. Apple, who live in the house next door and have an extreme aversion to anyone entering their yard.
The second book in the series, Henry Reed's Journey (1963
1963 in literature
The year 1963 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*First United States printing of John Cleland's 1749 novel, Fanny Hill . The book is banned for obscenity, triggering a court case by its publisher.*Leslie Charteris publishes his final collection of stories...
, paperback reissue ISBN 0-14-034145-5), is the only one not set in Grover's Corner. Instead, Henry meets Midge and her parents in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, and they drive across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to New Jersey.
The third book, Henry Reed's Baby-Sitting Service (1966
1966 in literature
The year 1966 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*February 14 - Dissident writers Yuli Daniel and Andrei Sinyavsky are sentenced to hard labour for "anti-Soviet activity"....
, paperback reissue ISBN 0-14-034146-3), is set during the same summer. Henry and Midge decide to become baby-sitters. The Apples have moved away, so Henry and Midge have to deal with the older, disdainful children who moved in next door.
Henry Reed's Big Show (1970
1970 in literature
The year 1970 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* Deliverance by American poet James Dickey published...
, paperback reissue ISBN 0-440-43570-6), the fourth book, involves Henry and Midge's efforts to become showbiz entrepreneurs.
In Henry Reed's Think Tank (1986
1986 in literature
The year 1986 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Michael Grade. Controller of BBC One, axes plans to televise Ian Curteis's The Falklands Play.-New books:*Kingsley Amis - The Old Devils...
, paperback reissue ISBN 0-440-40104-6), the fifth book, Henry and Midge return to their roots and set up a think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
to help solve the problems of Grover's Corner residents. This book is set just after the events of Big Show. This is the only book in which Robertson reverts Henry's age — he had gone from 13 to 15 in the previous books, but Robertson makes him 13 again in this novel, presumably to keep him interesting for the younger readers for whom the books were written.
Awards
- Henry Reed, Inc. received the William Allen White Children's Book AwardWilliam Allen White Children's Book AwardThe William Allen White Children's Book Award is an annual book award chosen by Kansas students. It was established by Ruth Garver Gagliardo in 1952, in memory of William Allen White and is administered by Emporia State University. It was the first statewide readers' choice book award in the United...
http://www.emporia.edu/libsv/wawbookaward/winners/winner60-61.htm in 1961 - Henry Reed's Baby-Sitting Service received the William Allen White Children's Book Award http://www.emporia.edu/libsv/wawbookaward/winners/winner68-69.htm and the Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Readers’ Choice Award in 1969