Cleary, B. (1983). Dear Mr. Henshaw. NY: Morrow.
Dear Mr. Henshaw was written by Beverly Cleary and won the Newbery Medal in 1984. The book begins with a letter 2nd grader Leigh Botts wrote to his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw. He details how much he liked his book and hoped to hear back from him. He continues to write to Mr. Henshaw throughout the years. In 6th grade he is assigned to write to his favorite author and asks them a series of questions. Of course Leigh writes to Mr. Henshaw a gets a return letter from him. Mr. Henshaw is funny and snarky. He ask Leigh a series of questions of his own. Leigh is hesitate to answer but after some push from his mom he begins to send him letters with his responses to his questions. He details problems he is having at home, dealing with his parents divorce and absence of his father, as well as problems at school, facing bullies and feeling overwhelmed with assignments. Mr. Henshaw encourages Leigh to start a journal for his thoughts. Through these letters and his journal, Leigh learns to overcome his issues with his father and accept the things he cannot change.
This book is formatted strictly in letters to Mr. Henshaw and journal entries. I enjoyed this format and made the emotions and thoughts shared by Leigh to feel so much richer. The topics that this book touches on, like divorce, bullying, struggling with school, feeling lonely, are so universal and I feel kids will get so much from reading this book. I recommend this book for readers 11-13.
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