Originally rated A by Linda LaffertytFour words for this book – It left me cold. I did review another book by this author and this one, like the other, is also filled with lots of sarcasm. Iola likes to write and always has ideas for stories, but her best friend Jennifer cannot come up with anything imaginative. Iola cannot understand why. She thinks, “There must be something between Jennifer’s ears…. But every time I hear that old wail of hers (“I can’t think of anything to write) I want to tape her mouth shut or slice off the top of Jen’s head and fill her brain up to overflowing with some of my leftover ideas.” Not very nice sentiments, in this reviewer’s opinion.tThen Jennifer receives a present from her aunt – a diary. She’s only written one liners on certain dates in her diary. Iola cannot comprehend that. Then the diary falls out of Jennifer’s backpack. Iola retrieves it, takes it home, and after trying much self control not to, writes a story based on Jen’s one line, “Nothing much happened today.” The story involved saving a boy from drowning. The next day in school Jennifer is asked to read her writing assignment. She has no idea what Iola has done in her diary. The story is a big success with both the teacher and students. Jennifer is very angry with Iola because “wet underwear” is mentioned in the story. I didn’t get it. The rest of the book is Iola coming up with all kinds of reasons why Jen should give Iola her diary, since she loves to write. Iola continues to write in Jen’s diary. At the end Iola tricks Jennifer into realizing she DOES have ideas to use for writing. Binding fair. Story very short – 58 pages
