Ms. Bixby's Last Day is a powerful book for middle grade kids about the importance of relationships and putting people before things. It is the story of three friends--Topher, Steve, and Brand, sixth graders who come from very different backgrounds and families. They each have their own issues with family members at home, but one thing they have going for them is their sixth-grade teacher. Ms. Bixby is known for being a "cool" teacher-- as teachers go. She knows her students and works to make sure that learning is fun and interesting. When Ms. Bixby announces she is ill and will not be able to finish out the school year, the three boys come up with a plan to let their teacher know just how much she means to them. In the process, they learn more about themselves, how much they really value Ms. Bixby, and how much they value each other. A book full of characters the reader can come to know and believe in, this one is a classic.