Jan Lieberman (Children's Literature)
When the new 6th grade substitute teacher, Mr. Moffat, tells his class that they will keep a journal, most of them consider it a joke. One girl, Lucy, takes to the idea and uses it to write her innermost feelings. She writes poems as well as responding to those Mr. M. writes on the board. Excerpts from other students' journals help us form a picture of the class and their problems. The effect of poetry on the children and the thoughtfulness that results from studying another person's words make this story linger long after the book is closed. 1997, Scholastic, $14.95. Ages 9 to 12.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1997)
A realistic novel, in the form of a journal, made slightly above average by the author's use of poetry. Mr. Moffat, the sixth-grade substitute teacher, asks everyone in Lucy's class to keep journals that he might read. Lucy is articulate about her rather typical concerns and activities. She lives with her divorced mother and comments upon her father's new love life. She has squabbles with her girlfriends and is tormented by Andy, a classmate who turns out to be the victim of abuse. The terrain is familiar, if not predictable. The teacher introduces the children to poems by Lilian Moore, Langston Hughes, Valerie Worth, and others, reprinted and commented upon by Lucy. She writes poetry, too, most of which seems too accomplished for her character. The poetry gives this a lift but doesn't sustain it; Andy's serious problems are dealt with too quickly and neatly. 1997, Scholastic, $14.95. © 1997 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Deborah Stevenson (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, April 1997 (Vol. 50, No. 8))
Lucy K. Keane has decided she's in love with her new sixth-grade teacher, Mr. Moffat. Lucy's a budding poet, and she's impressed with the fact that Mr. M chalks poems on the board and gets the class to discuss them, as well as the fact that he's provided all the students with journal notebooks, which is where she's writing these very observations. Lucy's journal tells of her explorations into poetry, her relationship with her mother (whom, she hopes, will soon remarry), the tensions between her and her best friend, Beatrice, and her running war with classmate Andy. Interspersed with her entries are Mr. Moffat's blackboard poems and selections from other journals, particularly Andy's, which shed a different light on his obstreperous behavior. The teacher-provided-journal idea isn't particularly original and has been done better, and the whole enterprise (especially the part where Andy's journal confidences about his abuse result in the teacher's getting the family help that solves the situation) has a programmatic flavor. Lucy's incipient poet status, however, is respectfully conveyed, and her relationship dilemmas are sympathetically drawn. Readers will appreciate the open and varied format (including drawings from Andy) and will, as usual, relish the idea of peering into somebody else's life. Ad--Additional book of acceptable quality for collections needing more material in the area. Reviewed from galleys (c) Copyright 1997, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 1997, Scholastic, [144p], $14.95. Grades 4-6.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, 1997)
Mr. Moffatt, a sixth-grade substitute teacher, encourages his new students to express themselves by keeping journals. Lucy's and Andy's alternating journal entries form the basis for the story and for their emotional growth. The youngsters' struggles (Lucy's to write good poetry and accept her mother's divorce and Andy's to deal with anger and an abusive father) are realistically and sensitively chronicled. Category: Fiction. 1997, Scholastic, 136pp.. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.