The entries in the journals of two sixth grade students reveal much about their personal feelings, family lives, and a growing interest in poetry sparked by their new substitute teacher. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

A whole new genre of books seems to have been born the day teachers started asking students to keep journals; the bland use of this journal format stamps Rocklin's (Sonia Begonia) novel with a formulaic feel. Here a substitute teacher, Mr. Moffat, inspires a sixth grade class with the poems he copies every Monday onto the chalkboard. Lucy, an eager student, fills her notebook with reactions to the poems, elliptically describes her crush on Mr. Moffat and shares her concerns about shifting friendships. In his notebook, Andy, an antisocial troublemaker, scribbles pictures of fighter planes, rarely putting down any words. Both students eventually reveal deep secrets, occasionally turning their journals into soap-opera-ish diaries ("Thursday, April 26: Someone is hurting my mother and me"). Mr. Moffat's poetry selections-superbly chosen works by Langston Hughes, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Octavio Paz and others-open each chapter and foreshadow plot developments. However moving the poems, the total effect is disjointed, and the overly neat and predictable resolutions of Lucy's and Andy's problems seem just as tired as the format. Ages 8-12. Copyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr 4-6--Through journals, poetry-loving Lucy bares her soul, while troublemaker Andy sketches war planes. Under their caring teacher's direction, each child embarks on a journey of self-discovery that culminates in unexpected friendship. Copyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 4-6. Sixth-grader Lucy Keane is excited about her new substitute teacher, generous Mr. Moffat, who writes a poem on the chalkboard each Monday and gives every student a notebook to start a journal. Through the journal, Mr. Moffat becomes Lucy's confidant and inspiration. Lucy begins writing poetry and becomes more attentive to the world around her, and her feelings about her divorced parents, her best friend, and the bane of her existence--a boy named Andy--come to light and are resolved. Andy's slow emergence as a writer and character contrasts nicely with Lucy's fast, emotive growth, and the journal format, graced by Lucy's perceptive voice, is quite appealing. The poems used throughout are well chosen and manageable for the age group, making the fiction more compelling and the book a good introduction to poetry and writing. (Reviewed March 1, 1997)0590674471Kathleen Squires From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.