Dear Mr. Henshaw
     This year I am in the sixth grade in a new school in a different town. Our teacher is making us do author reports to improve our writing skills, so of course I thought of you ...

Leigh Botts is having a tough time. It's not easy being the new kid in school - especially for Leigh, who is also trying to deal with his parents' recent divorce. "I am mad at Mom for divorcing Dad," Leigh explains. "She says it takes two people to get a divorce, so I am mad at two people."

But when Leigh starts writing to Mr. Henshaw, his favorite author, he finds someone he can really talk to. And maybe if he takes Mr. Henshaw's advice, sixth grade needn't be so bad:

     "I've been thinking about what you said on your postcard about keeping a diary. Maybe I'll try it ..."

As well as Dear Mr. Henshaw, you can read more about Leigh in another book, called Strider. Strider is the abandoned dog that Leigh discovers on the beach. "If dogs could cry, this dog would be crying hard," writes Leigh. "I couldn't forget the look on that dog's face." Can Leigh help Strider? You'll have to read the book to find out!