Book Review

By Derryll White

Anderson, John David (2016). Ms. Bixby’s Last Day.

“There is a long road yet,” said Gandalf.

                  “But it is the last road,” said Bilbo.

— J.R.R. Tolkein from The Hobbit

This is John Anderson’s fourth novel and the work shows the experience he has gained. This book is targeted to the young adult audience and the three boys – Christopher, Steve and Brand – are about 12. Ms. Bixby is a young and vibrant teacher. Anderson is quick to begin building very solid and individualistic characters. Steve Sarata is the brainiac, very good with facts and figures. Brand Walker is creative, making up new words like “tunk,” to bomb a test while tanking and flunking. Christopher Renn is the figure the others coalesce around, an artist and storyteller. They all take turn narrating the story from their own perspective. Anderson uses this as a very effective tool for character growth.

This book takes me back to my own childhood, a very long time ago. It gives me good feelings about that time of growth, loss and gain. Grandparents might consider buying ‘Ms. Bixby’s Last Day’ for their grandkids, and in particular boys. If they are very crafty, as in a little sneaky, they might read it first and risk relating with their progeny on a whole different level. I believe younger readers will just enjoy the story as an extension of their own life trajectory.

Ms. Margaret Eleanor Bixby accomplished what every good teacher dreams about. She touched and inspired her students, at least these three boys, in the most elemental part of themselves. She gave them something to believe in, something to aspire to. I am a long way from 12-years-old, but my eyes got foggy, my cheeks became mysteriously wet, and I had to blow my nose repeatedly. Not many novels do that to me.

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Excerpts from the novel:

TEACHERS – There are six kinds of teachers in the world. I know because we classified them once during indoor recess. First you have your Zombies: those are the ones who have been doing it for a few centuries, since Roosevelt was president – the first Roosevelt, with the broomy moustache from those museum movies.

SCHOOL – Ms. Bixby sighs the Teacher Sigh. The one they must give you on your walk out the door with your teaching degree. Equal parts exasperation, disappointment, and longing for summer vacation. “Did you tell Rebecca she had cooties?’

AFFIRMATIONS – “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be,” she said.

BOYS – From my experience, boys are easier to get along with. We have basic needs: potato chips, video games, and movies where national landmarks blow up. That makes us compatible. Compatible means going together without conflict.

GROWN-UPS – It’s the same with all grown-ups. They tell you what they think you want to hear and let life tell you the truth later. You can be an astronaut or the president of the United States or second baseman for the White Sox, but you can’t really because you hate math, aren’t rich, and can’t ever hit the ball. It’s just another fairy tale.

LIFE – “It’s funny how, as kids, we get these ideas in our head about what’s possible and what’s not. One day we’re invincible and the next day we are afraid of what’s in the closet. I grew up wanting to become a magician, but I became a teacher instead. Teaching is wonderful, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not every 10-year-old’s dream.”

– Derryll White once wrote books but now chooses to read and write about them.  When not reading he writes history for the web at www.basininstitute.org.

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