DEAR LOVEY HART: I AM DESPERATE

When a freshman, the daughter of the school guidance counselor, is assigned to write an anonymous lonely hearts column for the school newspaper, all sorts of outrageous possibilities come to mind. But Carrie Wasserman, alias Lovey Hart, is basically a sensible girl Dad objects to her advice but it's better than some guidance counselors give), and Conford chooses to exploit only the gentler ironies and obvious humor of the situation. Of course there is some trouble--boyfriend Mike takes Lovey Hart's advice to stop being such a nice guy and be a bit of a ""caveman""; girlfriend Terry uses another column as an excuse to pursue a crush on her French teacher. Then sister Jen gives away the secret in public, right in front of the senior carnival booth that is selling chances to ""Let Lovey Have It"" by dunking a boy dressed up as ""Lovey."" Even so, Carrie does get the attention of editor Chip. . . . Unabrasive, genuinely likable. . . though it's hard to imagine why Lovey Hart was such a circulation booster.