An A From Miss Keller

Based on the author's childhood, the story follows Trisha as she enters the classroom of the legendary and 'terrifying' Miss Keller. Trisha, who has previously struggled with learning, is desperate to earn an A in writing. Miss Keller pushes her to look deeper, move beyond clichés, and find the 'meat' in her stories. Through the loss of a neighbor and the guidance of her teacher, Trisha learns that true writing comes from the heart and soul, eventually earning the elusive grade. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book handles the death of a beloved neighbor, Pop, with grace and realism. It is secular and grounded in the emotional reality of a child's first experiences with loss. The resolution is hopeful, focusing on how memory and love fuel creativity. EMOTIONAL ARC: The story begins with high anxiety and academic pressure, moves through frustration and hard work, dips into sadness with the death of a friend, and concludes with a powerful sense of accomplishment and mutual respect. IDEAL READER: An 8 to 10 year old who is a 'perfectionist' and gets easily frustrated when they aren't naturally good at something. It is perfect for the student who thinks their teacher is 'mean' simply because they are demanding. PARENT TRIGGER: A child coming home crying about a low grade or feeling like a teacher 'doesn't like' them. PARENT PREP: Parents should be aware of the scene involving the death of the neighbor, Pop, as it is the catalyst for Trisha's breakthrough. It can be read cold, but discussing the concept of 'high expectations' beforehand helps. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger children (5-7) will focus on the 'scary' reputation of the teacher and the triumph of the grade. Older children (8-10) will better grasp the nuance of the writing process and the emotional weight of the loss. DIFFERENTIATOR: Unlike many school stories that paint strict teachers as villains, Polacco honors the 'Killer Kellers' of the world as the ones who truly believe in a child's potential.

This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.