Fred and the Mysterious Letter

Kristin Butcher writes novels for young adults. Her most recent works
are The Trouble with Liberty, Zee’s Way, and Chat Room.

Fred has a crush on a new girl at school. Unfortunately his feelings
aren’t reciprocated, and three months after Lola Lopez arrives, she
moves away again, taking Fred’s heart with her. Not only is Lola gone,
but a composition in which Fred confessed his feelings for her is also
missing.

Fred is so consumed by this unrequited love that he has ceased to
function normally, and his parents decide to send him to Vancouver to
visit his grandmother for the Christmas holidays. While he is there he
receives a letter from Lola, forwarded by his parents. Instead of
reading it right away, Fred shoves it under his pillow to enjoy in
private later. However, his cat tears it to shreds while Fred is out
with his grandmother. When Fred tries piecing the letter together, it
makes no sense at all, and he becomes frustrated and depressed. His
grandmother has better luck, and after digesting Lola’s words, Fred is
able to put closure on his feelings.

Though humorous, pleasantly illustrated, and written in simple language
for early readers, the story doesn’t quite work. It is difficult to
accept that someone as young as Fred could be so romantically crushed
that he requires a change of scenery to recover, that his parents would
send him away over Christmas, and that by reading Lola’s letter he is
suddenly able to put it the entire situation behind him. Recommended
with reservations.