Review of “Here’s How I See It-Here’s How It Is” by Heather Henson

“Here’s How I See It-Here’s How It Is” by Heather Henson is a wonderful story about a girl who works at her father’s summer theater and dreams of being a famous actor someday.

The entire book is laid out in relatively brief chapters which are in turn divided into two sections: one entitled “Here’s How I See It” another entitled “Here’s How It Is.” The main character is a young girl who goes by the nickname Junebug. Junebug and her family have always been close to theater. Her father once performed on Broadway, but now he runs a small open air summer theater in the middle of a field.

Junebug loves theater just like her father, but she is continually frustrated by the fact that her father won’t give her a major role in plays produced at the family theater. Junebug dreams of being a famous Broadway actor, but in reality her largest role in the current play is Thunder, using a piece of sheet metal to make thunder sounds for the play. Junebug is also the “gopher,” the stagehand that finds important items for the actors when they need them.

Junebug feels as if she is a character stuck in a tragic play. Her parents are separated, and her father appears to be giving the new lead actress Lelia far too much attention, even casting himself in lead positions in which he gets to fall in love with Lelia. Junebug is afraid that his father is in love with Lelia off stage as well as on stage.

Junebug wants her life to be like an orderly play that always turns out just like it is intended to. But it seems as if Junebug’s destiny is a tragedy just like the Shakespeare plays performed at the family theater. Junebug is determined to change things, though.

I felt that the strong point of “Here’s How I See It-Here’s How It Is” was the layout. The fascinating back and forth structure of the book shows both Junebug’s dreams and the reality of her life. This imaginative technique left me very impressed with Heather Henson’s writing skills.

Another fascinating detail in “Here’s How I See It-Here’s How It Is” is the cover art. The words “Here’s How I See It” are contained within a star shape, emphasizing Junebug’s dreams of being a star actor. The words “Here’s How It Is” are contained within a thundercloud, calling to mind Junebug’s real role in the theater: as the backstage Thunder sound.

The plot of “Here’s how I See It-Here’s How It Is” feels a little drawn out in some places. However, by the end of “Here’s How I See It-Here’s How It Is” I was left with a good feeling by the touching plot and sensitive characters. All aspects considered I think that “Here’s How I See It-Here’s How It Is” is surely a book worth buying.

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