This letter from Mrs. Moody, the library lady, is addressed to the fifth graders at Westbrooke Elementary who are nearing the end of their first year and will soon be leaving for middle school. She notes that this is a bittersweet time, as the students will leave but also embark on growing up, which will bring both great and tough times that shape who they become. Her main advice is to hold onto their dreams and remember that their family will always love and support them, especially during difficult periods. She also encourages the students to read books for pleasure.

1. Dear Fifth Graders,
Gosh, we’re almost to the end of our first year at Westbrooke and our first class of fifth graders will be
leaving soon. What a bitter sweet time. Bitter, because everyone hates to see you go and sweet
because you are headed for a journey like no other…growing up. There will be great times that you will
remember for the rest of your life and I won’t lie, they’ll be tough times that will feel like you’ll never get
through. Those great times and tough times will make you the person that you’re destined to be as an
adult and ALL of you have SO much potential!!
The best advice I can give you is to hold tight to your dreams and remember, you’ve ALWAYS got your
family to love and support you, through the toughest of times. Times, when you feel like you have no
one and your world is about to fall apart, your family will be there to lift you up and love you. You’ll
need all the love (sometimes “tough” love) and support you can get.
Oh, and I nearly forgot, read a good book just for pleasure. Books will always take you places you might
never be able to go otherwise.
I wish you all the best and I will always remember, Westbrooke Elementary’s first fifth grade class.
Take Care, and if you don’t quite understand what I was talking about in this letter, read it again in
about ten years, it will be very clear.
Mrs. Moody,
The Library Lady