Write Before Your Eyes (by Lisa Williams Kline)

Eighth-grader Gracie realizes anything she writes in the journal she picked up at a yard sale becomes true, at least in a sense. When she writes that a fuchsia elephant appeared, for example, a jogger with a purple elephant on his shirt runs past. Aided by her best friend Dylan, Gracie tries more elaborate wishes (her dad gets a new job, her older sister's crush asks her out) and discovers that even good events carry repercussions. As problems spiral out of control, Gracie loses the journal -- and must get it back so she can set everything straight.

A magical diary is the central clichh in WRITE BEFORE YOUR EYES; the "be careful what you wish for" message is supported by a host of other clichhs, including a grinning Cheshire cat, a subplot where Gracie doesn't know if her brainy crush likes her for real or because of her wish in the book, and an invisibility mishap. Several subplots remain undeveloped (the principal at Gracie's school is fired then reinstated; Dylan doesn't remember that Gracie manipulated his feelings for her). Unappealing characters don't help either: Gracie's shallow older sister Jen tells her jobless dad, "It's so humiliating to tell people we live in this apartment. I don't even want to invite anyone over." The writing often feels forced; when their mother insists she wasn't really mad, "all three kids looked at each other as if they'd been send at Warp 7 on the Starship Enterprise to another galaxy." Even Star Trek fans will say "Huh?" to that allusion.

Some readers might relate to Gracie's experiences as the middle child in a dysfunctional family or how she feels mousy and nondescript, and there's plenty for kids to talk about around the idea of the book, but it should have been developed better.

Author: Lisa Williams Kline
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication date: October 14, 2008
Number of pages: 192
Hardcover price: $15.99
Read Aloud: 10
Read Alone: 10