Dear Mr. Roald Dahl,
To write to only one author, and express how a poem or book of theirs has impacted me,
in less than 800 words is a hard thing for me to do. So many authors have built the
structure of what I am today, and proceeded to shape who I am, I could barely decide
who I would write to! I was becoming cockles, and more than a bit glumptious from all
the debating with myself, but then I found my old and tuckered out copy of The BFG. I
began reading and finished quickly. I was upset to have the story end so fast, but it was
alright because I knew I could just read it hundreds of times. Which I will, mind you, I
am getting close to one hundred already. And when I read one hundred reads, I will have
a marvelous and phizz-whizzing celebration! Anyway, it was after I had put the book
down, that I made the gloriumptious decision to write to you, Mr. Dahl. Just to let you
know, I will continue to make use of your lovely, nonsensical words throughout this
letter.
in less than 800 words is a hard thing for me to do. So many authors have built the
structure of what I am today, and proceeded to shape who I am, I could barely decide
who I would write to! I was becoming cockles, and more than a bit glumptious from all
the debating with myself, but then I found my old and tuckered out copy of The BFG. I
began reading and finished quickly. I was upset to have the story end so fast, but it was
alright because I knew I could just read it hundreds of times. Which I will, mind you, I
am getting close to one hundred already. And when I read one hundred reads, I will have
a marvelous and phizz-whizzing celebration! Anyway, it was after I had put the book
down, that I made the gloriumptious decision to write to you, Mr. Dahl. Just to let you
know, I will continue to make use of your lovely, nonsensical words throughout this
letter.
When I was young and ebullient child, the stories you had written aggrandized my far
fetched zaniness, my youth, and my fizzing blitheness to an almost unsurmountable
point. I used to read your poems and stories, repetitively, and never grew bored of them.
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG are my
very favorite works from you. I have never and will never become tired of them. How
could I? So I promise, cross my heart, to never, to ever, tire of nor forget your words. I
would like to thank you for writing such wonderful stories, which sparked my now
indefatigably present love for reading and poetry; and gifted myself and probably many
others with happiness and laughter. I know that I’ll forever remember and enjoy the
beloved stories of my childhood; The BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and
James and the Giant Peach, especially. Again, Dr. Dahl, thank you so much for your
stories. Thank you!
fetched zaniness, my youth, and my fizzing blitheness to an almost unsurmountable
point. I used to read your poems and stories, repetitively, and never grew bored of them.
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG are my
very favorite works from you. I have never and will never become tired of them. How
could I? So I promise, cross my heart, to never, to ever, tire of nor forget your words. I
would like to thank you for writing such wonderful stories, which sparked my now
indefatigably present love for reading and poetry; and gifted myself and probably many
others with happiness and laughter. I know that I’ll forever remember and enjoy the
beloved stories of my childhood; The BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and
James and the Giant Peach, especially. Again, Dr. Dahl, thank you so much for your
stories. Thank you!
After reading your stories the imagination that I possess occurs to me as a device of
happiness, capable of igniting nothing but positive feelings, instead of it occurring to me
as something that I needed to hold back. I have more appreciation for my imagination
now that I have before, my imagination and I both have you to thank for that. I cannot
help but feel inspired, and almost empowered by the stories, most especially The BFG.
The story has brightened my life, and put it into perspective. The first time I was
welcomed into giant country where most giants eat “human beans” and the other eats
disgustable snozzcumbers and drinks fizzy frobscottle, I was irrevocably hooked on your
unpredictable humor.
happiness, capable of igniting nothing but positive feelings, instead of it occurring to me
as something that I needed to hold back. I have more appreciation for my imagination
now that I have before, my imagination and I both have you to thank for that. I cannot
help but feel inspired, and almost empowered by the stories, most especially The BFG.
The story has brightened my life, and put it into perspective. The first time I was
welcomed into giant country where most giants eat “human beans” and the other eats
disgustable snozzcumbers and drinks fizzy frobscottle, I was irrevocably hooked on your
unpredictable humor.
All the silly details that are encompassed in The BFG are completely wonderful. Like
how, according to the cannybull gianst; Greeks taste greasy, Turks taste like turkey, and
those from Wales taste like fish. The whole book trapped my in the steady stream of
laughter and euphoria. But the most inspiring element of your book is the fact that the
BFG is an unbelievably good creature, (his name does mean Big Friendly Giant after all)
while his bullying and man-devouring fellow giants are completely awful and rather
oppressive, if you ask me. The BFG refusing to consume humans, resorting to the
nourishment of the dislikeable snozzcumber and distributing pleasant dreams to children
during the witching hour (instead of snatching and eating them) despite being surrounded
by the gruesome, man-eating other giants shows that in spite of the situation that you are
stuck in, you can be your own person. It also proves that being surrounded and influenced
by evil does not give someone an excuse to succumb to it, even in hostile environments
there are still opportunities for goodness, one just has to take them. I say that the BFG is a
role model, and someone struggling between good and evil should follow his lead and
refuse to let the pressures of society tip the scale for them (I think anyone who says
different is a chatbag bootboggler, and is talking gobblefunk malarkey).
how, according to the cannybull gianst; Greeks taste greasy, Turks taste like turkey, and
those from Wales taste like fish. The whole book trapped my in the steady stream of
laughter and euphoria. But the most inspiring element of your book is the fact that the
BFG is an unbelievably good creature, (his name does mean Big Friendly Giant after all)
while his bullying and man-devouring fellow giants are completely awful and rather
oppressive, if you ask me. The BFG refusing to consume humans, resorting to the
nourishment of the dislikeable snozzcumber and distributing pleasant dreams to children
during the witching hour (instead of snatching and eating them) despite being surrounded
by the gruesome, man-eating other giants shows that in spite of the situation that you are
stuck in, you can be your own person. It also proves that being surrounded and influenced
by evil does not give someone an excuse to succumb to it, even in hostile environments
there are still opportunities for goodness, one just has to take them. I say that the BFG is a
role model, and someone struggling between good and evil should follow his lead and
refuse to let the pressures of society tip the scale for them (I think anyone who says
different is a chatbag bootboggler, and is talking gobblefunk malarkey).
The BFG reminds me to stay true to myself and stick to my morals, I know that as long as
I do this I can remain elusive to the clutches of society’s mold for a proper person. Some
follow these molds, and I believe that their individuality suffers, while others
intentionally stray from the molds that prevent a person from being who they are meant
to be. I am one of those who steers clear of the cookie-cutter young person. I will always
keep the traits that form me; unique, free, passive-aggressive, tough and fragile,
opinionated, forever childish. You once said “I believe that mentally I am a sort of
overgrown child, a giggler, a lover of childish jokes and knock-knocks, a chocolate-andsweet-
eater, a person with one half of him that has failed to completely grow up.”
I do this I can remain elusive to the clutches of society’s mold for a proper person. Some
follow these molds, and I believe that their individuality suffers, while others
intentionally stray from the molds that prevent a person from being who they are meant
to be. I am one of those who steers clear of the cookie-cutter young person. I will always
keep the traits that form me; unique, free, passive-aggressive, tough and fragile,
opinionated, forever childish. You once said “I believe that mentally I am a sort of
overgrown child, a giggler, a lover of childish jokes and knock-knocks, a chocolate-andsweet-
eater, a person with one half of him that has failed to completely grow up.”
It appears that we have something in common, because I believe that about myself as well.
I will never apologize for being who I am despite, whatever anyone else thinks. No
matter what I do I will always be who I am; a lover, a fighter, an eccentric, a musician, an
athlete, one who takes the greatest delight in the simplest of things. I can accept myself
for who I am, maybe I will not always like it, but I know and accept what I know of
myself. I always learn new things about myself and I strive to change what I can. I am so
grateful for the splendiferous gift of self-knowledge and self-acceptance. I will always
credit The BFG, and you, for helping me to find and accept myself for who I am and will
remain to be, and for contributing to the individual that I am today. From the bottom of
my heart, thank you.
I will never apologize for being who I am despite, whatever anyone else thinks. No
matter what I do I will always be who I am; a lover, a fighter, an eccentric, a musician, an
athlete, one who takes the greatest delight in the simplest of things. I can accept myself
for who I am, maybe I will not always like it, but I know and accept what I know of
myself. I always learn new things about myself and I strive to change what I can. I am so
grateful for the splendiferous gift of self-knowledge and self-acceptance. I will always
credit The BFG, and you, for helping me to find and accept myself for who I am and will
remain to be, and for contributing to the individual that I am today. From the bottom of
my heart, thank you.
With respect and appreciation (and love),
Michaela Shae Hendricks
Dimond High School
Anchorage