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"Trial by Journal", by Kate Klise, is one of the most unique and creative fiction books to be published.  Lily Watson is a twelve year old and you learn about her situation as soon as you open the book.  There you will find a letter written by her to her teacher informing him that she doesn't want to go to summer school.  Apparently, she has to make up school work that she'll miss because of being selected to be the first youth in the state of Missouri to be on a jury. Perry Keet, (a very clever name), a classmate, is missing and Bob White, who worked with him at the local zoo, will stand trial for this alleged murder. This very inventive book is completely told through transcripts, journals, newspaper clippings and letters. As the story unfolds, you find that Lily has to keep a journal of her experiences during the trial to make up for some of her school work. Through these entries and letters that she writes to various people, you begin to get an understanding of her sense of humor, high intelligence and objective perception during this highly publicized trial. Of course, the town and situation is fictitious, but all of the players that you meet become important in helping Lily solve this mystery. As soon as you are introduced to Bob White, the alleged murderer, you become familiar with his simple, uneducated personality. The letter he writes in his cell demonstrates these attributes, as well as someone too nice to have done this terrible deed. Ms. Klise has created some hilarious and mysterious characters that Lily encounters both on the jury and as residents of Tyleville.  The format is so clever because each document plays off the previous one.  Ms. Klise's sister, M. Sarah Klise, has skillfully illustrated these documents to give the reader a real sense of the action taking place.  One page in the book might have the front page of the newspaper with information about the trial along with other interesting articles and advertisements.  The illustrations of the main characters fit perfectly with the articles. Another page might have a map of the city or the hotel where the jury has been sequestered. The story is fun, and funny, even though there seems to be a murder at stake.  The format is inventive.  But, I think the greatest attribute to this story is that it will enlighten a child as to the process of a trial. (There's even a representation of subpoena's and letters to the Honorable Judge E. Gall.)  This is an outstanding book for ages 8 to 12.

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Now, speaking of unique and different formats, "Dear Mrs. LaRue", by Mark Teague, is a picture book that follows this theme. The opening page has a picture of an unruly pet, Ike, on the cover of a local newspaper. The headline reads, "Local Dog Enters Obedience School".   The problems that caused the owner, Mrs. LaRue, to send her dog to behave better are all listed in this important article.  Except for the last few pages, the rest of the book has Ike typing and writing letters to his owner pleading for her to take him back home. Mr. Teague, who has illustrated some outstanding books including "How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?", has outdone himself here. On one side of the page you find Ike's letter pleading to leave the forsaken school.  On this same page, Mr. Teague has painted a bright, colorful picture of a very clean and happy school. (Even other dogs seem to have smiles on their snouts.) On the opposite page, the colors are all black and grays with a haunted house atop a cliff. The story proceeds with the dog's rendition and the reality of his stay. Children of all ages will really get a kick - or lick - out of this book.