Henry Reed (fictional Character) - The Henry Reed Books

The Henry Reed Books

In the first book, Henry Reed, Inc. (1958, 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.