Wow, that was… amazing.

When I think back over it, I think about

Topher, the talented artist with shaggy blonde hair and blue eyes, coming home to an empty house or parents who brush him off with an “Oh cool I've got to go sorry,” chasing adventure and wanting to be the superhero of every problem (especially Ms. Bixby's), always looking on the positive side—

Steve, with his head on Topher's shoulder on the ride home, stumbling under the weight of so many expectations, suffering in silent limerence and yet staying loyal to his friends through thick and thin, and getting his own triumph at the end (I am so proud of him)—

Brand, strong and capable and determined and so tired of being the responsible one (huddled in Ms. Bixby's arms in the ER, following her down the grocery store aisle, staring at the drawing of her as he walks home past the blossoming cherry trees), never giving up even when the dark clouds keep getting deeper—

And Ms. Bixby, short brown hair with a streak of pink, always quoting classics, reading The Hobbit with all the voices, that spark of life still there even when her hair falls away and her cheeks sink in (hands on her legs as she slowly makes her way down the hill), inspiring and loving and supportive and somehow managing to fill the holes in each of her students’ lives.

This story is led by adventure and backstory and 3D characters, full of thought-provoking reflections and quote-worthy sentences, and absolutely bursting with heart. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even through the tears (maybe especially through the tears), and I'm excited to read more of Anderson's work.