Dear Anjali

by Melissa Glenn Haber

Twelve-year-old Meredith’s world is rocked when her best friend Anjali dies from a sudden viral infection. In letters to Anjali, Meredith puzzles through how to cope with the ongoing challenges of school and regular life—without Anjali by her side. Complicating matters is the new friendship Meredith develops with Noah, the object of a crush she and Anjali once shared. Meredith’s connection with Noah leads first to guilt as the two grow closer…and ultimately to revelations that could shatter every memory Meredith holds dear regarding her lost friend.

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Death, Young Adult

288 pages, Hardcover

First published June 18, 2010

Reviews

[Squirrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! Although it is technically not out yet, you can purchase it at some stores, like a small coffee shop in Fairhope, Alabama, called Page and Palette, where I purchased my wonderful copy in a section which features books that are going to be published (Don't worry, they have legal rights)and it appears, according to a certain side bar, it is availible at Amazon.com. Now, on to the book. The beginning of the book has a grim plot. Meredith Beals is your average 7th grade 12 going on 13 year old. Except for when her friend, Anjali, who is soprettysonicesosmart, dies suddenly of a terrible fever. Meredith, heartbroken as she defines herself as a freak with no friends except Anjali, who seh is concerned she will forget if she does not write letters to the dead girl daily. Girl to corpse, Meredith's hilarious and touching letters feature comments on mean Wendy Mathenson, sister Katie, school, and house, as well as their big time crush, Noah Spivak. And as Meredith and Noah Spivak grow closer (and this part is on the back of the book): "Meredith feels she is betraying Anjali. But after a shocking secret, Meredith realizes it may be herself who is being betrayed. This book was marvelous! I would read it again! I really hope you enjoy when it comes out or if you are a before-it-is-published kind of person like me.

[Priyanka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction

Age Recommended: 12 and up

This book had an interesting end but I found majority of the content repetitive and I felt that most of the book was about a girl crying about losing her friend and fawning over a guy.

Dear Anjali

———————————————–

Meredith’s world is turned upside-down when her best friend Anjali dies. Anjali was in the hospital for a few days before she passed away but nobody truly believed that she would die until the reality of the situation hit them.

Meredith still hasn’t accepted that her best friend is dead and she is bent on writing letters to Anjali in hope that she will respond to one eventually. Moreover, a girl that Meredith and Anjali both disliked is still picking on Meredith. Before, Anjali would stand up for the two of them but now there’s nobody to protect Meredith from her taunts.

Also, Noah, a boy that the two girls had a crush on is suddenly noticing Meredith. She doesn’t know what to do about this and she is puzzled when he almost asks her out. However, she hears that Anjali was Noah’s secret boyfriend and when Noah confirms it, she breaks down completely.

Meredith believes that her whole life has been a lie…

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

In theory I liked this book, but in practice it really bugged me. I think the content was very interesting and could be really helpful for the right kid. It's about grief and anger and dealing with the death of the only person in the world you feel understands you. The feelings seemed realistic and accurate.

But the writing and the execution on this one just kinda bugged me. I felt like it was REALLY forced -- the writing was trying SO HARD to sound like a 12-year-old girl that I never really believed that it actually was a 12-year-old girl writing. Her vocabulary was extensive and her writing prosaic, but she doesn't understand punctuation or know how to spell? I dunno about that. I just never believed the voice of the character, and in a book that is written ENTIRELY in first person in an epistolary manner, I think that's a big problem.

[Vivian Duque Manley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book

[Laura Dal-Col · Rating 2 out of 5]

Your Best Friend, Meredith, Melissa Glenn Haber, Contemporary fiction.
Meredith had her best friend, Anjali, who out of nowhere, died of a high fever. Days passed by and the girl, not knowing how to deal with the death of her only friend, decided to write letters to her, not accepting that she was gone. Noah Spivak, the boy both girls liked, started getting closer to Meredith, for example when the two went to detention together. Not knowing how to deal with the guilt of this, she also ends up discovering other things that make her wonder if Anjali was really her friend. The book was written by a 12-year-old girl expressing her feelings, so at times it could be confusing due to its narrative, which used a lot of slang, for example. With the situations that happened, I don't think it's something you would be entertained by, since they are sad things that sometimes you don't understand. I don't recommend this book. I think it's difficult for you to identify with the main character, since she goes through a very unique situation, it's almost impossible for you to witness the same thing. It's a very sad book that makes you reflect on things you wouldn't think about, but the main character has a very closed mind, not open to new opinions just living in the death of her best friend

[liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for the OWLs


I first picked this book up three years ago, and I started to read it, but for reasons unknown to me, I stopped reading. I didn't even get to the "good" part. Now, having finished the book for the OWLs, I understand why I hadn't finished it. It was quite honestly a struggle to read through, because it just didn't hold my attention. The ending was not satisfying. I just wish I had enjoyed it more.

[miko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been my favorite book for ages now. I read this book when I was around 11 I think. It was my favorite book at that time but for now, I can't say that anymore since I've met some better books that suit my current tastes. I'm not completely sure of how to feel about this book but I cherish it of course since it's one of the first books I loved. I might read it again some other time and rate it again later.

[Laiba Basit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words to describe this book; it was almost perfect. I especially loved the ending - it was sad and heartbreaking yet happy and hopeful.

My rating: 5.5 stars.
3 stars for the plot/storyline.
2 stars for the characters.
.5 stars for the narration.

Book 336!

[Denae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explores grief and depression in a way that is understandable for middle grade readers.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The topic is challenging but it is an honest struggle and the main character Meredith is very relatable. She feel that she is an outcast and Anjali is her only friend. When Anjali suddenly dies Meredith vows to write her every day, it is her way of keeping Anjali close, and she really really needs someone to talk to. In her letters she tells Anjali about her family and school, how hard everything is without her there and most importantly how much she needs her friend now. Anjali is the only one who could tell her what to do about Noah Spivak! The boy she has had a crush on for years is finally becoming her friend. But is she betraying Anjali who liked him too? As she learns more about Noah, Anjali and her enemy Wendy, Meredith is left feeling betrayed herself. Was Anjali really her best friend forever or is she really all alone in the world. This book is definitely for mature 5th graders or middle school students who will be able to relate with Meredith as she struggles to figure out who she is and how to deal with her friends death.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

(This review might count as a spoiler)

This book is written from the main character Meredith (12)'s perspective in a form of a letter. The letters are all written for Anjali, Meredith's best friend who suddenly died of some fatal infections. Meredith writes these letter with a antique typewriter, about her life without Anjali on her side. At first, Meredith just writes the letter because of her sinking feeling for her missing best friend, but as the story becomes close to the ending, Meredith grows up and learns to get over the sadness. Overally, this book caused depressive feelings, but it was not as sad as I expected. Maybe because of my high expectations that this book would be totally sad, I was thinking "What's this?" at the end of the book. But other than that, the plot flew okay, and the tension was thick enough (at least at the start of the book). I recommend this book to girls who like girly books, but to connect yourself well, I think it's best for a 12 year old to read it.

[Helen Prichett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Meredith has just lost her best friend, Anjali, very unexpectedly. She turns to writing to Anjali as a way to process all that has happened as she attempts to deal with her confusion, anger, and sadness. Much of her correspondence is typed on an old typewriter and includes typos which might prove distracting to some readers. Most of her letters center on Noah Spivack, a boy that she has had a crush on for several years. As Meredith mourns Anjali, she finds out a great deal that she did not know about the girl she felt she knew so well. At the same time, she also learns a great deal about herself. This book is a moving tribute to friendship, the struggles that we have as we grow up, and finding our way after a great loss. As Meredith says "sometimes I think we're not remembering the real her only the her we want to remember."

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I hate that you’re DEAD,” types Meredith. Losing your best friend at the age of twelve is unthinkable. But Meredith must face the fact that Anjali is now gone. Somehow, writing letters (especially ones written on a typewriter when you-really-pound-your-fingers) to Anjali makes Meredith feel like she is able to keep a part of Anjali alive and close. Read through Meredith's poignant, spot-on, and sometimes funny letters to see how this 12-year old tries to manage her significantly muddled-up, complicated middle school life. A wonderful story, especially for a young girl grieving over the loss of a close friend.

[7703Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

DEAR ANJALI is about a girl named Meredith who looses her best friend to a fatal infection and copes by writing letters to her with an antique type writer. She writes down her everyday life in these letters and takes up back to when Anjali was alive. But along the way she uncovers some dark secrets that Anjali never told her about.

Throughout the book I had this feeling of depression, and when Meredith talked she gave off a self harm vibe for some reason. I really enjoyed the relationship she had with Anjali and how you felt every feeling with her, like she was a real person. Definitely a must read.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Anjali suddenly dies, Meredith writes letters to her on her typewriter to feel closer to her than she actually is. But soon when she starts a friendship with Noah Spivak, the boy both of them liked, she feels like she betrayed Anjali, but did she? Did she really?

I picked up this book because I read the synopsis and I thought the book might be interesting.

I finished this book because I thought it was really touching, especially the last letter Meredith writes to Anjali.

I would recommend this book to anyone, because it talks about true friends and how great they are, and how their decisions are why you are friends with them.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this at the library and was drawn to the title since I know a few Anjalis. It's about an almost-13-yr-old girl whose best friend, Anjali, suddenly dies. In this book, the narrator comes to accept that Anjali was a flawed person, like everyone else, but was still a great friend. She realizes that she needs to go on living, which ultimately means leaving Anjali behind. I especially liked how Anjali was depicted as a full, complex character, not some kind of cardboard cutout or stereotype.

[Drew Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really connect with me more because like Meredith I had a friend,my Dad so spent all night reading this book and wondering what would happen to Meredith and her crush Noah even tho Meredith for gave Anjali I don't think she really deserve even tho she told him to take care of Meredith , she still shouldn't of did that behind Meredith back , maybe I the only one who thinks this but I all has my girl before the guys

My opinion, Drew

[Leila G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book because it is suspenseful and intriguing. Dear Anjali is about a twelve-year-old girl named Meredith whose best friend, Anjali, passes away. Meredith tries to keep Anjali close by writing letters to her. The story also includes adventures of Meredith and her new friend Noah. This is a great book because a lot of people can relate to Meredith if they have lost someone.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book twice already and I love it enough to read it again. If you've ever had a best friend, and if you've ever fallen in love... this book is for you. It's Beautiful and Sad and Poignant and Honestly Funny. I'd like to be the kind of friend that Meredith Beals is.

Also, I love this cover.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book although I skimmed most of it. It's a friendship story for tweens, dealing with school, family, crushes, romance, and mean girls--with the sad twist that the narrator's best friend has recently and suddenly died.

[Valeria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it is a story of a bit of betrayal and of trust.So a girl(don't remember name)whose BEST friend dies,finds out secerets that anjali has been hiding from her,like that she went to a party to their most hated enemy.

[Jeanne Adeline Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written in letter formats, which made it very interesting. It made me wonder a lot, too. There is a bit of romance in it, not a whole lot. The main idea is about a girl who is writing letters to her dead best friend. This is a good book to read.

[Arianna Kae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was amazing. This book captures the progression of Meredith, the main character, finding closure after her best friend, Anjali dies. Terribly tragic and amazingly heartfelt. I'd absolutely recommend this book.

[Olivia Canfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting, but the way that it was written didn't really appeal to me all that much. The story didn't have much of a plot, which was frustrating at times because that made it hard to follow and reading it seemed a little pointless because of the lack of plot.

[Ilyah Nazrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever had a childhood best friend, who was your whole world, and to have lost her/him be it at the hands of death or worldly circumstance, this is for you.

I felt like I was taken back in time to when I was a kid. I'm so emotional right now. 😭

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have read this year. Actually, make that in the last five years. It's deep, it's funny, it's wonderful, page-turning, good good good stuff.

[Berkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

this bok would be good for anyone who likes realistic fiction, loves romance and if your a 6-9th grade girl and not afraid to cry this is the book for you i looooved it.

[Emilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just got this book yesturday, and I can already rate it the highest score! It's great! I reccomend it to all girls!

[Abigail]

So far it is a dark and sad book and hard to put down
abbie
ps i am on pg 63 of 280

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love how this book is a series of letters written on an old typewriter. Meredith Beals can make you laugh and make you feel bad as you read her notes to her dead best friend, Anjali.