Dear+Mr.+Henshaw



Shaina B. 8/3/10 Mr. Caliento B217 (Grade 7)

__Dear Mr. Henshaw__ By: Beverly Cleary

This book is about a boy named Leigh Botts. He loves to read books by the author Boyd Henshaw and from second grade until sixth grade he write him telling him he loves his books. Then he moves to a new town and the teacher assigns the students to write an author report, so Leigh choose Mr. Henshaw. He sends Mr. Henshaw letters continuously throughout the book talking about Mr. Henshaw's books, Leigh family life and Leigh's love for writing. Mr. Henshaw recommends for Leigh to start a diary and through the book it is Leigh's diary entries and his letters to Mr. Henshaw. Leigh has had a rough life, with his parents getting a divorce and his father takes Leigh's companion, Bandit the dog. Leigh calls his dad and recieves postcards randomly from his father because his father travels the country as a trucker. Throughout the book you understand Leigh's life through his letters to Mr. Henshaw and his diary entries.

I especially liked the character Leigh Botts because he had an interesting personality. I enjoyed reading about his life and his struggles at school with the mystery lunch theif that loves to steal the good things out of his lunch bag. Leigh Botts is a very unique character and I loved reading the story because he was such an interesting character. Also I liked how the story was in a formed of letters and not the regular format of a book. This kept me interested always to see what Leigh would say in his letters and his diary next.

My personal recommendation for this book is to middle school age readers that love stories about people's personal lives and books about someone that tries very hard and has a passion for one thing. Also if you like to read books that are funny then you should read this book because Leigh's struggles at school with the lunch theif and the attempts that Leigh makes to try to find out who it is are funny. You should read this book because it is very interesting and unique!