First published 1984
Leigh Botts sits down to write a letter to Boyd Henshaw, the author of his favorite book. He's in sixth grade at a new school in a different town, and his teacher has assigned author reports to help students improve their writing. Leigh fires off ten questions to Henshaw, asking about everything from how many books he's written to whether Boyd Henshaw is his real name. He wants to know where authors get their ideas, what Henshaw's favorite animal is, and most importantly, how to write a book himself. Leigh dreams of becoming a famous author and writing books just like Henshaw's. He makes bold requests too, asking for an autographed picture, a bookmark, and a complete list of Henshaw's books. The deadline looms large in his mind. He needs answers by next Friday and marks his request as urgent. Through his earnest, demanding letter, Leigh reveals his loneliness in a new place and his deep hunger for connection and creative expression.
Genres: fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
134 pages · Paperback · Yearling