Sir Galahad, Mr. Longfellow, and Me

Horvath pens a charming tale of 11-year-old Emily, independent of spirit and determined to make her mark. When new sixth grade teacher Mr. Van (aka Sir Galahad) encourages Emily Ann to write poetry, she is both flattered and afraid. It's her secret desire to be a poet, but is she brave enough to reveal her true feelings? Although conventionally plotted, this novel of a Missouri schoolgirl in the Depression era boasts some delightful features, especially the character of irritating Ruby, who yearns to be Emily Ann's best friend and brags that ""when I was born I was so little I could fit into a cigar box."" And a subplot features a touching friendship with the less fortunate Violet Rose, to whom Emily and her mom play ""fairy godmother."" The only drawback is the sporadic intrusion of an adult tone in the sixth-grader's first-person narrative, as when Emily Ann ponders existential questions before composing a poem: ""Where did this urge to write come from? Did it really come from Grandpa? I had thought it was something that I had discovered for myself!"" Still, the story draws to a worthwhile climax as Mr. Van, without Emily Ann's knowledge, brings about her first recognition as a poet. Through the eyes of a spunky protagonist, the author assuredly weaves universal themes of preadolescence into a historic framework. Ages 8-12. (Apr.)