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This book retells Johanna Spyri’s classic tale of the young girl Heidi and her life on the alm. Summary of the Book A young girl named Heidi comes into the care of her aunt Dete once her parents pass away. After Heidi turns 5, Dete takes her to her grandfather, a man who lives alone on the alm. Called Alm-Uncle by the villagers who live by the alm, the old man is a recluse and doesn’t want Heidi around. However, Heidi wins him over with her charm and her intelligence, and he soon dotes on her. She wins the hearts of the people in the village and enjoys playing on the alm with Peter, the goatherd. However, her joy is short-lived, as her aunt returns to take Heidi to be a companion to Klara Sesemann, the only child of the wealthy Sesemann House. Klara is considered to be an invalid, and Heidi soon bonds with her. She despises the etiquette and the manners that are enforced on her in the household, and she soon becomes home-sick. But if she is to return, she must leave behind her newfound friend. The decision to leave may not even be hers to make. About Johanna Spyri Johanna Spyri was a Swiss writer best known for her children’s books. The above title is one of the most widely known works of Swiss literature. Media Note The above title was adapted into a hit anime series entitled Heidi, Girl of the Alps by Isao Takahata. It was also adapted into a live action film in 2005 directed by Paul Marcus.