Dear Mr. Henshaw

I finally finished reading Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” that I had been reluctantly reading. It’s not so enjoyable to read a novel, following the author’s narrative description, when you already know the content. I think having to read a book you don’t want to read for a class is one of the things to be thankful for though... ^^

There was this in the preface written by Mary Shelley:

As Sancho said, everything has a beginning.

And that beginning is always connected with something that existed before.

From the preface of “Frankenstein”

I ended my first reading diary, “Thank You, Mr. Falker,” with a suggestion to write a letter to the author of the book that moved you. So, to continue writing in a chain, I chose a book about writing a letter to an author. “Dear Mr. Henshaw".

This book is a treasure I found in Aladdin during the days when we lived with my in-laws after returning from Shanghai, and I took refuge in libraries and cafes whenever I had the chance. The illustrations were really good. The watercolor painting with bold pencil strokes exposed is as clear as the heart of our protagonist, Leigh Botts (the original illustrations are different. The Korean version was drawn by Seungmin Lee, which is a hundred times, a thousand times better than the original! Such warmth!).

Leigh Botts lives in a shack-like house next to a gas station with his mother, who divorced his father. His mother is an employee of a catering company, and thanks to her, he often packs fancy buffet food given by his boss into his lunch box. He ends up writing a letter to Mr. Henshaw, the author of “How to Make Dogs Fun,” which his teacher read during his second grade class. At first, it started as a class assignment, but the letter exchange continues even after he transfers schools, and the content deepens. As he answers ten questions about Leigh sent by Mr. Henshaw, he unfolds his own story. The letter sent to Mr. Henshaw becomes a diary in the form of a letter sent to Mr. Henshaw and then transforms into a secret diary that calmly unfolds his own story. Through this process, Leigh grows as a child who loves himself and understands the absence of his father.

This story could be just so-so because there are no special events and the protagonist is too ordinary. Perhaps this novel touches the hearts of adults who were too ordinary to be noticed in their childhood and matured quickly in their own world. So, I think that’s why this book caught my eye on the used book display shelf.

Leigh wins a writing contest and gets the opportunity to have dinner with an author named Angela Baezer. When Angela says, “Ah, you’re the author who wrote ‘The Day I Rode My Dad’s Truck’!” Leigh replies, “It’s just a small piece.” He remains modest despite Angela’s specific compliments. But he cherishes the experience of being called an author and being praised and encouraged to write in his own way by a real author, and he writes it down in words. I also spent my school days without being proud of my abilities. Looking back, I had quite a lot of good talents, but I always lacked confidence and was oppressed by inferiority complex. How great would it have been if I knew how to find myself by writing like Leigh Botts!

Leigh always misses his father. He always takes comfort in the idea that a dog named ‘Brigand’ is there to watch over his dad when he can’t be there himself. But then that dog disappears. He asks his father… “Dad, you’re not walking around with another dog instead of Brigand, are you?” He says he wanted to ask if he had adopted another child instead. Fortunately, his father finds Brigand and stops by home. Not returning, but stopping by. Delivering broccoli… Disappointment… His mother and father confirm that they cannot get closer and his father is about to leave but tries to leave Brigand with Leigh. But Leigh tells his father that Brigand needs him more and asks him to take him away. “Please take him away. I can’t make Brigand as fun as you.” There’s no way that could be true. He has read “How to Make Dogs Fun” countless times! It’s Leigh’s heart trying to connect with his father. Leigh doesn’t blame either his mother or father. His heart has grown enough to fill his father’s absence.

There is something common in Newbery Award-winning works: growth! And there is always quite a decent adult who helps with that growth. Growth novels may seem monotonous and mediocre compared to bizarre and stimulating stories that many children like. Those stories can provide thrills and guide us into fun imaginations for a while. But stories that give us insight and touch our hearts always have the theme of growth. Why are we moved by such stories? Because it’s something we’ve all experienced. I’m turning 50 soon but I always dream of growth like Leigh Botts~~