MS. BIXBY'S LAST DAY, by John David Anderson

The story: When their teacher disappears unexpectedly, three 6th grade boys don't get a chance to say goodbye. And when they find out she has cancer, Steve, Topher, and Brand set out to visit Ms. Bixby one last time, determined to re-create the exact conditions their teacher had once described as how she'd spend her last day on earth. Of course, circumstances combine to get in the way. Will the boys ever actually make it to the hospital, much less bust their teacher out?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG, Violence G; Sexual context G; Nudity G; substance abuse PG; magic & the occult G; LGBT content G; adult themes (death of a teacher, parental disability, pressure to perform, difficult lives) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: A great story for boys, 4th-6th. (Girls and older would like it too if they were willing to give it a chance.) Here's a story that's full of heart, with three boys trying to find their place in an increasingly demanding world where one of their mentors is going out of it. Funny, sad, and encouraging all at the same time--good stuff, as long as you're not put off by talk of farts and boogers. Cuz, sixth grade boys.