Setting
The initial third of Dear Mr. Henshaw is composed of a sequence of letters from Leigh Botts to a children's book author. These letters include a month and day, but the year is deliberately left out to avoid dating the book. Leigh writes the first letter in second grade, the second one in third grade, the third and fourth in fourth grade, and the fifth and sixth in fifth grade. During second through fifth grades, Leigh resides with his mother and father in a mobile home near Bakersfield, California. Starting from the seventh letter, Leigh is a sixth grader dealing with a move to Pacific Grove on California's central coast, his parents' divorce, and a mysterious lunch bag thief. He lives in a very small house that is "sort of falling apart" and is furnished with secondhand items from a thrift shop. This house is located on a city street adjacent to a gas station. While the contemporary themes in Dear Mr. Henshaw suggest a 1980s backdrop, Leigh's emotions and insights remain timeless.
Literary Qualities
Dear Mr. Henshaw is considered Cleary's most profound work, often regarded by critics as her finest. The book marks a significant shift in format, style, content, and tone from her typically lighthearted stories. The novel stands out in Cleary's repertoire due to its exclusive use of journal entries and letters addressed to Mr. Henshaw. This "epistolary" style was first introduced by Samuel Richardson in his work Pamela (1740). The only insights into Leigh, his life, and his family are those disclosed through his own letters and diary. This approach creates a deeply personal narrative that feels almost autobiographical, allowing readers to easily connect with Leigh as he candidly shares his thoughts and emotions.
Cleary skillfully captures Leigh's youthful innocence in his initial letters with an endearing style. Frequent spelling mistakes ("Keep in tutch") and incorrect word choices ("I am a great enjoyer of your books") both entertain the reader and enhance the character's charm. The very first letter, for instance, simply states, "My teacher read your book about the dog to our class. It was funny. We licked it." The letter closings also bring humor: "Your friend," "Your friend," "Your best reader," "Your favorite reader," "Disgusted reader," "Your pooped reader," "Still disgusted," "Pooped writer," and "Fooey on you." Some postscripts particularly resonate with children:
De Liver
De Letter
De Sooner
De Better
De Later
De Letter
De Madder
I Getter
Then I turned another page and saw Honorable Mention and under it, A Day on
the Rig by Leigh M, Botts.
As Leigh matures and develops his writing skills, his spelling and word usage
gradually improve. When he starts writing in his diary, he begins each entry
with "Dear Mr. Pretend Henshaw" since his writing journey started with letters
to the author. Eventually, he stops this habit as he gains confidence in his
writing abilities.
Although Cleary typically uses a direct style without hidden meanings, the book contains two notable examples of symbolism. When Leigh enters a protected area to observe monarch butterflies, he initially cannot see them. Eventually, he notices what appear to be numerous "little brown sticks" covering the tree branches and realizes they are thousands of resting butterflies. As the sun comes out, the "sticks" begin to flutter until the fog returns, causing them to settle again. This scene illustrates how the troubled boy finds peace and joy in nature. Furthermore, the butterflies may symbolize boys like Leigh who seem ordinary and go unnoticed but, under the right conditions, reveal their true beauty and potential.
Another example of symbolism appears in the ten-foot wax...
(This entire section contains 585 words.)
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truck driver that Leigh attempts to write a story about. This wax figure likely represents the truck driver Bill Botts. In modern times, long-haul truck drivers are seen as the romantic counterparts of cowboys, who traditionally symbolize freedom, adventure, and the pursuit of the American dream. In Paul O. Zelinsky's illustration, Botts is depicted wearing a western hat. Symbolically, the father's heroic image melts away under the harsh light of reality. Leigh's understanding that the story fails because the character can't resolve the situation if he melts shows his growing maturity and possibly his acceptance of his father. This acceptance becomes even clearer in his final choice of topic,A Day on Dad's Rig.
Finally, the book's effectiveness lies in its tight plot. Despite the numerous issues troubling Leigh—such as his parents' divorce, his lack of friends, and the lunch bag thief—Cleary skillfully weaves them all into a cohesive narrative, leading to a realistic and satisfying conclusion.
For Further Reference
Cleary, Beverly. "Newbery Medal Acceptance." Horn Book 60 (August 1984): 429-438. This speech is rich with details about Cleary's background, her views on children and contemporary society, her motivations for writing Dear Mr. Henshaw, and the reactions from readers.
Commire, Anne. Something about the Author. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale Research, 1971. The section on Beverly Cleary provides personal and professional details along with insights into her writing philosophy.
Fuller, Muriel, ed. More Junior Authors. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1963. Features an insightful autobiographical sketch of Cleary.
Gillespie, John T., and Christine B. Gilbert, eds. Best Books for Children: Preschool Through the Middle Grades. New York: R. R. Bowker, 1978. Includes annotated listings of several of Cleary's works among the entries.
Metzger, Linda, ed. Contemporary Authors, New Revision Series. Vol. 19. Detroit: Gale Research, 1987. Offers an excellent 1985 interview with Cleary, along with valuable biographical insights and an updated list of her publications and accolades.
Mooney, Martha T., ed. Book Review Digest: March 1984 to February 1985. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1985. This edition features reviews of Dear Mr. Henshaw.
Reuther, David. "Beverly Cleary." Horn Book 60 (August 1984): 439-443. Cleary's editor provides additional information on her upbringing, writing routines, and character.
