Dear Napoleon, I Know You're Dead, But...

Dear Levi #3

by Elvira Woodruff

Sending a letter to Napoleon through a secret courier service that delivers mail to people in other times, Marty Ballucci and his classmates are amazed when he gets back a reply and that he is able to correspond with several famous dead people. Reprint.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1992

About the author

Elvira Woodruff is an American children's author known for blending fantasy and history in her stories. Born in Somerville, New Jersey, she studied English literature at Adelphi and Boston University. Before becoming a writer, she worked a variety of jobs and later found inspiration while working as a librarian in Easton, Pennsylvania. Woodruff has published numerous children's books, including George Washington's Socks, The Memory Coat, and Dear Levi. Her work has been praised for its engaging storytelling and historical depth. Throughout her career, she has created imaginative, heartfelt stories that continue to captivate young readers.

Reviews

[Art]

Book is about relationships of family, elderly, dying, and dead, dead, dead old guys of history. LOL.
As a History teacher, my students grumble about learning what think is unrelated, outdated and uncool stuff.
This book brings history to life as we follow a young man who is to do a writing project for his class. The story is about his relationship w/his Grandfather, his mother and his classmates.
Good read all around.
I laughed, cried, cried some more and then cheered at the end of the book!
:0)

[Rachel]

My grandma has been talking about this book for literally what feels like a year, if not actually a year itself. If you ask her she will give it 5 stars hands down. She was a school teacher and she loves finding books that could potentially go into new classrooms, coincidentally that's why I read it- but that's not the point. The book is good. But I didn't love it. I do, however, recommend it to fourth grade classrooms and really that's a big part of why we're here right now.

It's a quick read. I, myself, thought this book was going to be more about the historical figures that Marty is writing to from the past. The letters do become important, but not it the way where I thought they were going to be the main focus of the book. Also, I was intrigued that dead people were writing Marty back and my older and more fantasy driven self wanted to see how Woodruff played this one out. No spoilers on that.

*Minor spoiler with context clues ahead
What I didn't expect was for this book to be so greatly revolving around his Gramps, who has recently been sent to the nursing home. As the book continued I realized he was going to be a big part of the book, but it wasn't until page 190 (yes 20 from the end), that I realized exactly how the book was going to end. That was sad, and I wasn't prepared for that.

Marty's Gramp's reminds me of my own Papall. Actually I can see why my grandmother probably loves this book so much. Gramps is A LOT like her husband. Tall tales, some truer than others. Always up to something. Loving his grand kids, etc. Marty and Gramps' thing is supposed to be blueberry pancakes with bluejays; my Papall's thing is pancakes and cinnamon apples. The books good, and if you have a grandfather who you're close to or even just share some kind of special relationship with you'll feel it at the end. As for me, I didn't realize how much I missed my Papall until the last chapters.

[Fruitloopz]

I don't LOVE this book because there's death i was not expecting the death of Marty's Gramps.i liked all the words that this author done.This is a great book and i totally recommend it.

[Bunny]

This book was perfect. It had moments of humor and banter that reminded me of when I was the protagonists’ ages. And it had moments of such poignancy that it made me cry - and I don’t think I’ve cried over a book in years. So. Beautiful book!

[Mr. Kehres]

A basic school assignment of writing a letter to a famous person gets a little crazy when Marty gets one back from his celebrity. Doesn't sound too strange, until you find out he actually wrote Napolean - who has been dead for a few hundred years. A good story of a young boy, living with his mother, and having to deal with an ailing grandfather - all while trying to figure out what the is deal with these strange letters.

[Minh Anh]

Such an amazing book. I love the way mom just trying to make the morning similar to the way when her Pop was still alive, love the way his best friend try his best to amuse Marty. I was reading the book when my grandmother was really sick, and somehow it did make me feel better about the aspect of losing someone to death. This would be a beautiful book for my future niece and nephew.

[Cohen Miller]

I really enjoyed this book. I really took the message at the end to heart. I would suggest reading this book to really anyone it is just a really good book.

[Xiao Wen]

Martin's grandfather loves his grandson very much because Martin has an assignment, which is to write a letter to a famous alive person, and expect those people reply. But Martin writes to dead people, Napoleon and A. Lincoln. All people know that nobody will reply, but Martin's grandfather uses Napoleon and A. Lincoln's names to reply back. Martin's grandfather's purpose is to make Martin happy. Almost all of the grandparents want to make their grandchildren happy, but their way is to give them a piece of candy or take them to the park, never help them in the way that Martin's grandfather does.

[Diane]

It all started when Marty's teacher, Miss Gerbino, suggests they all write letters to someone famous in hopes of getting a response. But Marty can't think of anyone famous who is alive that he wants to write to, so he chooses Napoleon. His grandpa, who used to live with him but is now living in a nursing home, tells Marty all about Napoleon. Miss Gerbino thinks Marty misunderstands the assignment, but when a letter actually arrives from Paris, France signed by Napoleon Bonaparte, the whole class is stunned. Through all the uproar, Marty has his best friend, Russ, to help him get into and out of trouble.

[Honig]

I don’t like books that much but two weeks ago I wanted to do something for a change because I felt alone as “living a broad college student “.
The days past and I found the book really amusing but on a dull Monday night I got a call from my dad telling me that my uncle just died. I didn’t know him that much he lived next to me, I saw him quite often but we were never close.
He could be mean in a really funny way. He was real and one of nosiest people i have ever met.
But the only thing that made me really sad the idea of seeing our loved ones dying slowly because they are sick.
I’m really grateful for reading this book and how happy and sad it made me be.

[Phoebe]

One of the titles that sits on the shelf gathering dust because of its dated cover; nonetheless, a poignant story about a boy whose close relationship with his beloved grandfather is interrupted by his grandfather's move to a nursing home. A school letter-writing assignment turns into a great adventure when Marty bends the rules to write to a dead person (Napoleon)--and gets a reply. 5th grade and older.

[Emily]

A fabulous read aloud with my kids! SO much to discuss: why it's important to be yourself and uplift others, believing in things that you feel in your heart are true, remembering people/past...and it was funny to boot! I sobbed through the last few chapters--which made reading aloud difficult, but it really touched my heart. I don't think it's one we'll forget soon!

[Ashleigh Cutler]

I read this as a kid with my father. It stayed with me all these years. I really enjoyed the mystery of just how he was getting the letters (even though I suspected the answer). It was a good story if a slight tear-jerker. I would suggest it for any kid or kid at heart.

[mansha kakar]

VERRYYYYYYYY INTERESTING!
and sorta funny!

[Alivia Harris]

I red this way back when, but I still think about it sometimes.

[Jocelyn Montalvo Cullum]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14093351

[Anne Marie]

Excellent children's book!

[Magda]

I thought this was an exceptionally sweet (but not too sweet) book.