Posted by JHR on January 10, 2003 at 16:36:25:
In Reply to: Over the Wall posted by Meckenzie on January 09, 2003 at 06:50:25:
In response to this message posted by Meckenzie on January 09, 2003 at 06:50:25:
Dear Mr. Ritter,
This was the best book I have ever read. It really got to me and I have never read a book with so much going on. Usually in a book like that I would get confused, but you wrote it in a way that I could understand it. At first I thought the book was about hitting his first homerun. But it was about a kid
making a difference in the way we treat other people.
I got thinking about Tyler's position he was in, with his dad, coach, baseball, cousins, and his project. It was hard for me when I read the part in which
his sister died. I kinda freak out and want to go yell at idiots that hurt little girls when something like that happens. I'm not saying that his dad hurt her, it's just that when babies or little girls get hurt, I think about how young they were. But, the book was strong and got to me in all sorts of ways. I never thought about how much the Vietnam War really was until now.
I never heard of the book before, until we had to do a project with an award-winning novel. And I chose your book, becuase I am a big fan of baseball. I
never thought it was about the Vietnam War. When I got to the last three chapters I couldn't stop reading it. I read before I go to bed and I was up till 12 o'clock reading it. I finished it that night, I couldn't wait to finish it. I read alot of books, and now when I see a good book or a bad book. This book was Great!
I'm surprised I've never heard of this book before. I'm glad you wrote it and published it. It was one of the best books I have ever read.
***
Dear Meckenzie,
I actually read your letter twice in order to grasp the depth of your comments.
Thank you for writing such a thoughtful response to Over the Wall. Yes, it is a book that delivers more than it seems to promise at first glance. I've always loved that type of book myself and I decided early on that I would only write those kinds of books for other readers who, like me, enjoy finding those few books that give you twist, turns, depth, and a surprise along with the story.
It is high praise for me to know that you are a baseball fan and, even though this book was about war, anger, and our culture of fear (a fact that the movie, "Bowling for Columbine" so wonderfully demonstrates), you were not disappointed and, in fact, thought so highly of it.
You, too, are a great writer and thinker. I'm sure your teachers are genuinely impressed. Please keep up the good work. The world needs more people like you.
All best wishes,
-JHR
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