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Dear Mr. Henshaw,

I wish somebody would stop stealing the good stuff out of my lunchbag. I guess I wish a lot of other things, too. I wish someday Dad and Bandit would pull up in front in the rig ... Dad would yell out of the cab, "Come on, Leigh. Hop in and I'll give you a lift to school."

Leigh Botts has been author Boyd Henshaw's number one fan ever 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.

Average Customer Rating:

Dull...

Customer Rating:

I was disappointed--This is a Beverly Cleary book, and I grew up on the Ramona Series. Maybe I just went into it with irrationally high hopes, thinking it'd be a happy, fun-filled story. Nooope. It's a really boring story, with the main character as a boring ordinary boy. Nothing spectacular happens. He acts younger than his age and the characterization is quite horrible. The plot threads are chaotic and disorganized (What does the lunch have to do with his father? What does any of it have to do with the letter writing?) After the climactic phone call to his father, maybe the one part of the book I thought was emotionally charged and realistic, everything works out WAY TOO NEATLY. And then, the worst thing she could possibly do--she brings his dad back! WHAT?! There was no point to that, none at all. It would have been so much stronger if he hadn't come back and if Leigh had learned to cope. Nothing gets resolved (There are still daddy issues. The lunchbox thief still hasn't been found. And darn it, he STILL hasn't met Boyd Henshaw!) and it's a ridiculously dull book. :(

Coming-of-Age

Customer Rating:

I cannot think of this book without deep fondness. If you let it, this is one of those books that can change your life. It's honest and innocent all at once, and Cleary does an incredible job of capturing the mood of a boy going through a confusing time of friends and family. His only outlet is a series of letters to his favorite author. What begins as a school assignment becomes a relationship (even though we are granted only Leigh's perspective) that is personal and makes you appreciate the wonderful people that are out there. The best thing about this is watching Leigh grow as a character and learn to deal with the ups and downs of his life.

Excellent novel	Customer Rating:
Lee is a lonely little boy dealing with his parents' divorce. He begins a correspondence with his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw. This letter writing helps Lee understand himself better. I read this to my classes every year when we are learning about letter writing. It is a powerful novel that kids can relate to.

Great Realistic Fiction! By JS from North Boulevard

Customer Rating:

The book I am reviewing is written by Beverly Cleary. It is a great book named Dear Mr. Henshaw. It is a book about a boy named Leigh Botts, he writes letters to his favorite author Mr.Henshaw. He writes about many of his problems such as his parents' divorce and trouble at school. I think this book deserves four stars because I like reading about realistic problems and people. I recommend this book to people who like realistic fiction in grades 3-5. Beverly Cleary also writes many stories like Ramona the Pest and Mouse and the motorcycle.

Dear Mr.henshaw=#1	Customer Rating:
The beginning made me wonder so I wanted to read on. The middle answered all my questions. The ending was sad and happy at the same time. This is why I liked Dear Mr.Henshaw!!!!!