4 out of 4 stars
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Dear H by Diane Guntrip is a children’s book written in diary form. It follows the story of 12-year-old Amanda as she endures bullying due to her weight and appearance. On top of the bullying, Amanda just doesn’t feel like she can confide in her parents. She writes to her imaginary friend “H” to help her cope with her insecurities and the relentless bullies at her school, the worst of which is a girl named Cassandra who will not let Amanda forget how “fat and frumpy” she is. However, she might just have one trick up her sleeve to make the bullying stop. You’ll have to read this book to see what that trick might be.
This is an amazing book with a great lesson. Amanda is a character that many children and young teens could relate to, especially if they have experienced bullying. This book teaches what some of the effects of bullying can be. I love that it does this in a light-hearted way that isn’t too serious for such a young group of readers. Even though it is light-hearted, you really can’t miss the message because it is coming straight from the character who is being bullied. Bullying is a very relevant topic in society today, especially for those close to Amanda’s age, and this book did a great job bringing the problem to light.
The style of writing sounded just like a 12-year-old girl who is confiding in her diary. It was very believable, and I found myself hanging on every word. Amanda was dramatic at times and vulnerable at others, and she reminded me quite a bit of myself at that age (frumpiness included). There were even a few parts I found myself laughing at. This inclusion of humor really broke up the seriousness of the book, which I think is important since it is intended for a young audience. As a whole, I think it is perfectly written for that audience.
I also have to commend this author on the careful editing that was apparent in this book. I only noticed a few minor errors here and there, and they never detracted from the story. This is especially important in children’s books, and I appreciate the time that was put into the editing of this book.
I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. The writing was excellent, the grammar was on point, and the message was very touching. I honestly can’t think of anything to complain about with this book. The author really did a great job making such a difficult topic so easy to read about. I would recommend Dear H to all children around middle school age, especially those who have been subjected to bullying.
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Dear H
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