For the eleven years since the death of her parents, fifteen-year old Harriet Henderson and her grandfather Max have made their home into something of a haven. But Harriet is no longer a little girl. There are changes, inevitable changes, changes that her grandfather finds himself resisting.
Harriet – thoughtful and free-spirited – is restless. School, up until now, has been dull. But there’s a new English teacher, Molly McInness, who encourages Harriet to see herself as a writer. And for Molly herself, there's nothing more satisfying than having a student like Harriet Henderson. This promises to be a special relationship for both of them.
But not everyone shares their excitement.
Zeph, the boy who in the dark of night paints on vacant walls, is untouched; nothing, it seems, penetrates the barriers he has erected around his solitary self. Tran, son of an influential politician, is confused and incensed.
There are murmurings in the staffroom, too, and the school’s Principal, glib Eliott Sullivan, sees potential threats to the smooth operation of his systems.
Tensions build at home and at school. And then, in a single impulsive moment, Harriet makes a decision that changes everything.
The Worlds of Harriet Henderson is a novel about writing, about the mythopoetic, about imagination and intuition, and about the role of stories and storytelling in our lives.
