Dear Mr. Henshaw

Title: Dear Mr. Henshaw

Author: Beverly Cleary

Date Finished: April 18, 2009 (second read a thon read…)

Personal Book Count: 31 out of 100

Rating: 3 out of 5

Genre/ Subject: Newbery Medal

First Line: Dear Mr. Henshaw, My teacher read your book about the dog to our class.

Summery: From the back of the book-

“Leigh Botts has been author Boyd Henshaw’s number one fan even since he was in second grade. Now in sixth grade, Leigh lives with his mother and is the new kid at school. He’s lonely, troubled by the absence of his father, a cross-country trucker, and angry because a mysterious thief steals from his lunchbag. Then Leigh’s teacher assigns a letter-writing project. Naturally Leigh chooses to write to Mr. Henshaw, Whose surprising answer changes Leigh’s Life.”

Why did I pick this book? : at one point I had decided I was going to read all the Newbery’s, so at some point I had picked this up (from bookmooch, I think) and stuck it on the shelf. Then when I was about half way through the readathon, I saw this one, and decided it was time to read it.

Review: I liked this book, for what it was, and I can totally see why it won the Newbery. It was a cute, fun, fast read that actually made me laugh out loud a few times. I am impressed how Cleary chose to change formats in the book from a letter, to more of a diary style. It would have been so easy to stick with one format through out, but I like the way it showed growth for the character. The black and white illustrations were wonderful, and I was sucked in from the beginning by the characters voice. If I was an 8 year old boy, I would be hooked. =D

Agree? Disagree? Recommendations? Any insights, suggestions, or comments on the book or format, or blog at all are most welcome. If you have read this and/ or review it yourself, please let me know. Can you think of any books like this? Give me a recommendation! =D