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smcassamas's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
mschrock8's review against another edition
Writing letters!
* * *
Re-read for the letters, having forgotten about the diary part.
"You know something? I think I feel better when I write in my diary." Oh, yes!
* * *
Re-read for the letters, having forgotten about the diary part.
"You know something? I think I feel better when I write in my diary." Oh, yes!
alboyer6's review against another edition
5.0
Normally the loss of an author doesn't affect me a whole lot. A brief moment of sadness for their family who lost them. Cleary was different. Tears came to my eyes and a strong need to share how much Cleary meant to me. I had reread Henry books when she turned 100. They were the first books I had ever binge read. So when she passed I immediately reached for her books on the shelves. As much as I loved Henry Huggins and helped who I am as a reader, I had never read her other books (I tried but ramona was bratty and I felt too much like beezus). I just finished Dear Mr Henshaw. A newbery winner, a good book, a book still very readable. Thank you Beverly for all your books....
shaneent's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This is a childhood favourite that has become a comfort read for me. Leigh was always so relatable, in his deep admiration for his favourite author and his big dream to be an author. He was also very relatable in his desire to be truly seen and loved for who he was.
I think this was one of the first books I read with a bittersweet ending without a real conclusion, showing me how to hold sadness and hopefulness together.
I think this was one of the first books I read with a bittersweet ending without a real conclusion, showing me how to hold sadness and hopefulness together.
ruebranch's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
ali_enza's review against another edition
Before I give this book a rating I want to reread it. I read it in 2nd grade and remember liking it immensely.
thewallflower00's review against another edition
2.0
At least twice during school, my reading textbook contained an excerpt from this. And both times it was the part where the boy gets to go to lunch with an author. Now I finally read it.
That excerpt is nothing like the book.
Well, maybe a little. It is about a young boy who writes letters to an author. They start as “fan mail/questions”. Then it becomes personal stuff about his life–way too personal–that transforms into essentially a diary, or shouting into the wind. And it’s in epistolary format, so it’s fun to see his writing style evolve over time. I was under the impression that Mr. Henshaw never responds to the boy, but in fact he does. You just don’t see those responses. But writing is not what the book is about.
It’s about his coming to terms with his parents’ divorce and his deadbeat truck driver father. A bit cliche now, but not so much when this was written. I don’t know why, but something felt off about this book. Maybe it was my expectations that it would be about a boy becoming a writer and then being delivered a bildrungsoman. Maybe I couldn’t much relate to the boy. He’s living in a trailer and he’s constantly talking about his father–if he’s going to come visit, if he’s going to call, what he’s doing with their dog, who was that woman who answered the phone, and so on. Something’s lacking–either charm or wit or levity. It seems bleak. It seems like the moral is “adults are shits and there’s nothing you can do about it, kid”. It’s a solid idea, but lacks plot. So it comes off whiny. I imagine this is the kid who grew up to become J.D. Salinger.
That excerpt is nothing like the book.
Well, maybe a little. It is about a young boy who writes letters to an author. They start as “fan mail/questions”. Then it becomes personal stuff about his life–way too personal–that transforms into essentially a diary, or shouting into the wind. And it’s in epistolary format, so it’s fun to see his writing style evolve over time. I was under the impression that Mr. Henshaw never responds to the boy, but in fact he does. You just don’t see those responses. But writing is not what the book is about.
It’s about his coming to terms with his parents’ divorce and his deadbeat truck driver father. A bit cliche now, but not so much when this was written. I don’t know why, but something felt off about this book. Maybe it was my expectations that it would be about a boy becoming a writer and then being delivered a bildrungsoman. Maybe I couldn’t much relate to the boy. He’s living in a trailer and he’s constantly talking about his father–if he’s going to come visit, if he’s going to call, what he’s doing with their dog, who was that woman who answered the phone, and so on. Something’s lacking–either charm or wit or levity. It seems bleak. It seems like the moral is “adults are shits and there’s nothing you can do about it, kid”. It’s a solid idea, but lacks plot. So it comes off whiny. I imagine this is the kid who grew up to become J.D. Salinger.
ellitilford's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cess_lavie's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0