Sher, E., & Leng, Q.
(2017). Away. Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press.
This realistic fiction book overwhelmed me with emotion when I discovered it a few weeks ago. The characters include a mother, her daughter, Skip, and a brief appearance from the maternal grandmother, Mimsy. The mother and daughter appear to be busy with work, school, or chores, unable to spend as much time together as they would like. As a result, sticky notes are left all over the house for each other to find. Even with the brief text, the love shared between the mother and daughter is evident. Skip is preparing mentally and physically for her first time away from home to attend a week at camp in the book. The dialogue between her mother and Skip is humorous and intriguing. Through the banter back and forth, along with the visit from Mimsy, the characters relay a close-knit relationship full of love. The illustrations from Leng complement the text. The soft watercolors enhance a calm, whimsical mood over the book, even as Skip is adamant she will not be going to camp. Somehow, the reader can feel the calm from the mother as she encourages her daughter to have a new adventure. In the end, the experience is precisely what Skip needed. In a fun way to connect to the reader, the illustrator, Leng, includes the family cat, Lester, on almost all the pages. Also, not to be missed, Leng incorporates a biracial family dynamic. Skip has a much darker complexion to her mother and grandmother's light complexions. The reader does not ever receive confirmation of the details, but why would that be necessary, as the intent is to tell the story of a loving family.
This book struck a chord with me, as I would handwrite sticky notes to my daughter when she was in elementary school. It wasn't until we moved and she was in college did she share with me she kept all the notes I wrote her. As the years have progressed, I moved from sticky notes to writing on the mirrors to my daughter and son. Hindsight 20/20, I wish I had written more sticky notes as a tangible memory.
For my daughter, writing the notes was a way for me to connect to her during a difficult chapter in our lives. I think about difficulties she shared with me, and they mirrored those of Skip not wanting to leave her mom and pet cat. Regarding my son, I have written more notes on the mirror or family dry erase board than I have sticky notes. In actuality, I now send texts with more than reminders to do chores, relatively quick "I'm thinking of you" messages. I recognize my son's love language is words of affirmation, and this is just one little way to fill his bucket. I definitely connected to the storyline. It is pure realistic fiction, particularly for my family.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cleary, B., & Zelinsky, P. O. (1983). Dear Mr. Henshaw. Morrow.
This book is near and dear to my heart. I remember reading this book around 1983 or 1984, soon after my parents divorced. I had never read a children's book about divorce nor identified with a character's emotions like Leigh's. Reading as he struggled with the divorce itself, along with the growing distance between his father and himself, was gut-wrenching, as I could relate on so many levels. At the time, I could not adequately articulate the connection. I did begin writing in a journal soon after. Was it due to this book? I have no clue, but I am sure the idea was planted in my thoughts. Years later, I forgot Leigh was a boy. I suppose I morphed the character into a girl to help with my own childhood coping mechanisms.
As an adult with a husband who is a long-haul truck driver, I found Leigh's descriptions of his father's rig amusing. Cleary explained the trucker life terminology accurately. As an adult, as a teacher, I observe Leigh's writing improving as he moved from writing short sentenced letters to Mr. Henshaw to writing lengthy letters and moving into a journal as the story progresses. I do not imagine I had this realization as a child. As an adult, as a mother, I observe Leigh slowly opening up to others at his new school, allowing himself to be seen, and no longer letting himself be the "mediumest boy in the class."
As for the illustrations in the chapter book, Zelinsky provides pops of black and white pen sketches to aid with the text. But, again, there aren't many illustrations, just enough to add some visual enhancements to the story.
From divorce and not seeing a parent, to lonesome feelings at a new school, to difficulty completing a writing assignment from a teacher, Dear Mr. Henshaw is still contemporary realistic fiction. Cleary's award-winning book is as relevant today as it was almost thirty years ago.
