Clearly, B. (1983).
Dear Mr. Henshaw. New York:
Morrow Junior Books.
Leigh Botts is a young boy who writes a letter to Boyd
Henshaw, his favorite author, as an assignment.
However, instead of ending the correspondence after completing the
assignment, Leigh continues to write to Mr. Henshaw, who continues to give him
tips on how to improve his writing. When
Mr. Henshaw recommends for Leigh to get a diary, the reader finds out about
Leigh’s struggles to adjust to a new school while trying to understand his
parents after they divorce. Through
writing in his diary, Leigh is finally able to come to terms about his father’s
behavior and finally make a few friends at school. The illustrations from Paul O. Zelinsky are wonderfully
sketched with details and textures to add more expression to Leigh’s diary
entries. These illustrations are also meant
to reinforce important and meaningful moments in Leigh’s life, a symbol of his transition
from childhood to adulthood. The themes
of family life, acceptance, and loss of innocence in this epistolary genre would
make a great read of upper elementary and middle grade kids. Leigh’s consciousness also allows readers to
relate and empathize with him as he expresses his fears, hopes, and mood in
each of his letter and diary entries.
This is a 1984 Newbery Medal Winner and has been in print for 33 years.
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