Julia Jekyll and Harriet Hyde

Plot

Olivia Hallinan portrays Julia Jekyll, a clever schoolgirl who creates a special elixir for a science fair. The school bullies, Nicola and Sharon—collectively called the Blister Sisters—tamper with her experiment by mixing in a hair-restoring formula. When Julia takes a sip during her presentation, she morphs into Harriet Hyde, a large, hairy monster who frightens nearly everyone she encounters, despite being gentle and harmless. Julia’s parents, Jerry and Moira, adore Harriet, believing she is simply Julia’s friend, unaware that they are the same person.

Moira has a habit of literally repeating whatever someone says when they utter “You can say that again.” Their next-door neighbors, Jason and Mona Jitter, are a highly anxious couple who frequently visit a therapist; they live in terror of Harriet and suffer repeated mishaps with her. The Blister Sisters constantly scheme to eliminate Harriet, but their plans backfire, often ending with them being hurled headfirst across the room. Harriet’s transformations usually fade after a while, but they unpredictably return.

Julia’s best friend and classmate at Rocket Academy, Edward Knickers, is the only person who knows her secret. Julia struggles to conceal her condition from her parents, the Jitters, teachers, and other students while searching for a cure. She can often sense when a change is coming and hides, for instance by pretending to feel ill and excusing herself. The staff at Rocket Academy include the cheerful hippie headmaster Memphis Rocket, his elderly mother who dotes on him but is a terrible cook, and Lester Blister, the cruel and scheming uncle of the Blister Sisters, who aims to take over the school.