Trial by Journal

Trial by Journal is a great example of a children's novel that uses a collective format. With a format reminiscent of My Secret War Diary by Marcia Williams, this book uses personal narration in the form of a journal augmented by newspaper clippings, secret notes, drawings, flyers, tickets, and more.

Readers should not expect this book to be a good representation of the legal process however you can learn more about how trials work. What drew me to Trial by Journal was the subtle humor which even adults can appreciate. The book is full of hidden clues and laughs. If you enjoy Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, or Theodore Boone you will probably enjoy this light funny mystery novel.

A children's book (a graphic novel? a picture book?) by the same team of author and illustrator who wrote Regarding the Fountain, Trial by Journal is the story of a twelve-year-old who is chosen for a jury and is asked by her teacher to keep a journal of the experience. Like Regarding the Fountain, the charm of the book is as much in the clever way the illustrator uses pictures to add depth to the text of the story as it is in the story itself.