This novel is nothing like any other novel I have read. One of the main reasons why it is so different is because of the format the words are written in. Each page has words set up like it would be a poem, not a novel. The most words that are on a line is about five. There is lots of space in between different "stanza's" as well. Another reason this novel is different is because unlike any other novel I have read, this print is in blue. At first this caught me off guard a little, but then it just added to the overall feeling of who has the power in writing. It is not written in stone that every single novel has to be printed in black ink, so why not take risks? The print is larger, which makes this a perfect read for beginning readers of longer books. The larger print along with less text on the page can really help slower readers boost their confidence. Like Jack the main character in the story says, "you can read a lot of short poems in not that much time". Since this book is written like poems it makes the reading go fast and has the power to help struggling readers keep up.
The overall message of this novel is a good one. I remember being terrified of writing poems, not knowing what to write about, what words rhymed with other words and how long the entire piece should be. This book lets readers know that they have the ultimate power in writing their poems and usually have the freedom and power to create it however they would like. No limits.
I could definitely see myself using this book as a whole class read before a unit on poetry because it is a good way to set the tone for beginning poetry writers. I really think that Sharon Creech, the author did an excellent job capturing the feelings of students taking on poetry. Many readers can relate to how Jack feels.
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