Thanks to my love of letters and all things correspondence related, I am particularly pleased when I stumble upon an epistolary book (a story told through letters or diaries)!!
I will use this page to showcase a few of my discoveries from children’s books to classic literature! 📚😁🥰📬
The Book List
(In no particular order)
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
A wonderful epistolary novel…my favorite!! Sybil VanAntwerp is a 70something retired lawyer who has a lifelong habit of letter writing. Through correspondence with various people, including her children, friends, and even beloved authors, Sybil's full life, professional career as a chief clerk, and profound grief are gradually revealed. I loved Sybil and discovering her through her correspondence was wonderful. Sybil is strong and confident on the outside but she, like all of us must deal with the pain of grief and regret that comes with every life. While aging and physical limitations shrink Sybil’s world, unexpected new connections are revealed. It is thoroughly a delight and truly moving. Recommend! Letter writing is awesome.
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XO, OX A Love Story by Adam Rex (Illustrated by Scott Campbell). I love OX. ❤️ Even if Gazelle doesn’t. Readers of all ages will enjoy the side-splitting humor in this exchange of letters between love-struck Ox and his crush, Gazelle, who does not initially return Ox’s affections. No matter what insults Gazelle writes back to Ox, Ox remains oblivious and devoted. I highly recommend this epistolary tale of epic romance.
Dear Gazelle,
For some time now I have wanted to write a letter to say how much I admire you. You are so graceful and fine. Even when you are running from tigers you are like a ballerina who is running away from tigers.
I think that what I'm trying to say is that I love you.
XO, OX
The Color Purple by Alice Walker. This is one of my favorite epistolary tales. Set in rural Georgia in the 1930s, this novel tells the story of Celie and Nettie, poor, African-American sisters who are separated as young girls but remain loyal and hope-filled despite years of sexual abuse, violence, oppression and injustice. The trauma and violence in this book are harsh and I recommend parental guidance as it is not suitable for all readers. The movie is also wonderful but, of course, the book is better! 😉
. Dear Dinosaur by Chae Strathie. This book reminds me of Murphy Boy Wonder.❤️ Once upon a time the Murphy Mob visited the Milwaukee Public Museum. It’s a fabulous place with over 4 million exhibits on 3 floors! After several hours we had seen much but not all and decided to call it a day and head back to our hotel. Murphy Boy Wonder’s quest for knowledge is legendary, even at age 8. He was distraught when he realized he would have to forfeit viewing an entire floor! If only I, like Dinosaur Dora, the museum employee, had suggested writing to the T. Rex! 💡 The results are this fabulous epistolary book! Max has lots of questions so he writes to T. Rex and T. Rex writes back!! A wonderful pen friendship develops. The magic of snailmail strikes again! 🥰 🦖💌🧍🏼♂️
. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. One day Duncan opens his crayon box only to discover a packet of letters, letters from his crayons! The crayons quit!! They each have their own grievances and complaints they want to air and do so in a delightful letter format! ✉️ What can poor Duncan do to get his crayons back in action and doing what they do best? I love his creative solution and especially love the letters from the crayons! 🖍
