The actual poems, both the apologies and the responses, are quite nice, but the fact that the book claims to have been written by an actual 6th-grade class and teacher, as well as their family and friends, is misleading - these writers are fictitious. I love fiction, but I read the book imagining this kids and their lives, applauding their grasp of language for ones so young... Then I got to the end and realized that none of them were real, and it was just a talented adult author tackling multiple situations. So while the poems and the story itself are worth reading, some of the simple authenticity is lost once you realize that it was all written and illustrated by just two people. ( )

Joyce Sidman’s uses her creativity to create a special and unique poetry experience in this single author collection. The poems found in this collection are presented in two parts: poems of apology and poems of forgiveness. These fictionalized poems come from the perspective of sixth grades students whose teacher, Mrs. Merz asks the students to write a poem of apology to someone. The surprising part is they asked the people they apologized to, to write a poem back in response and included those poems too. Each pair of poems tells its own special and unique story between the two characters and their responses. The students like the poems so much they decided to put it into a book.
Each poem and response has a level of humor that older studetns will be able to understand and enjoy, mixed in with some honesty and self-reflection. These creative poetry stories bring creativity and wisdom to the surface with each poem.

As always, the combination of Sidman's writing and Zagarenski's artistry is a joy to read!

This is a compilation of sixth grade students who express their sorrow and apologies. A lovely book!

Reading this book of apologies, I remembered that a long overdue apology should have occurred to Mrs. Rader, my third (or fourth) grade teacher. I didn't like her at all. As a introverted, quiet child, to me, she seemed very rough. She made me stay inside of the class while others where outside on the playground because she insisted I "indent" my writing. I did not know what indent meant, and she really wasn't good, or patient in explaining it to me.

Later that day, in a spelling book there was a cartoon- like image of a woman in a footed tub, and the woman was scrubbing away with lots of bubbles and a wooden scrub brush. Out loud, I said "This is Mrs. Radar!!!"

My second punishment of the day, was to sit outside the classroom on the wooden steps, watching as the music teacher entered the classroom. Mrs. Radar knew I loved the music teacher and how much it would hurt not to be able to sing and spend time with her. When Mrs. Brown saw my tears, she kindly asked why I was in the hall; I said it was because I hated Mrs. Rader! ( )

For beginning readers. This book was written by a class of 6th grade students. All of the poems have to do with apology and forgiveness. Since it is written by children, the poems are relatable and geared towards children. It also teaches the important lesson of apologizing when we make mistakes. ( )

Source: School Library Journal Book Review Stars, 2007
Age: 6-13
Assessment of Quality: The way the poems in the second half of the book answer the apology poems in the first half of the book make the reader pay attention to and re-read many of the poems.
Assessment of potential use: This book would be great to read as a class and emulate since all of the poetry in this book was written by a class of 6th grade students.
Assessment of appeal to children: Since most of the poetry in this book are written by children, the poems are highly relatable and digestible to children.