Wolf's (Party of Five) bright, boyish voice brings to life Creech's novel-in-free-verse about a student's enlightening year of course work. As school starts in September, Jack is not eager to embark on Miss Stretchberry's poetry writing assignments. "I don't want to/ because boys/ don't write poetry./ Girls do." But Jack's attitude soon changes. As Miss Stretchberry reads the works of great poets (Robert Frost, Valerie Worth, William Blake) to the class and encourages Jack's writing efforts, Jack discovers his unique voice—and a true talent for creative expression. The culmination of Jack's great year is a classroom visit from Mr. Walter Dean Myers, who wrote what Jack considers "the best best BEST/ poem/ ever," called "Love That Boy," a selection that has become the boy's biggest inspiration. Wolf plays Jack with a realistic, respectful and contemporary tone. He nimbly conveys surprise, wonder and heartfelt emotion without sounding sentimental or affected, a quality that will have many young listeners enthralled. Ages 8-up. (Mar.)
