I discovered An A From Miss Keller while searching for all of Patricia Polacco’s autobiographical books, and it is one of the most moving stories I’ve read in this collection. Polacco’s autobiographical works highlight the profound influence of teachers in her life, and this book fits beautifully into the chronology of those stories, showcasing another mentor who played a pivotal role in shaping her.
This story hit me harder than most of Polacco’s books—and, yes, it made me cry. Miss Keller, or “Killer Keller” as Trisha’s kindly old neighbor affectionately calls her, is a no-nonsense English teacher who demands excellence and brooks no excuses. She doesn’t coddle or indulge her students, and she actively tries to weed out anyone unwilling to meet her high standards. Yet, beneath her tough exterior lies a keen eye for potential, which makes her eventual interest in Trisha all the more compelling.
Trisha’s classmates accuse her of being a teacher’s pet, but from Trisha’s perspective, this “favoritism” feels like a curse. Miss Keller’s constant critique and exacting standards seem harsher on her than on anyone else. Despite the frustration, Trisha yearns to earn Miss Keller’s approval. She dreams of mastering her words, of giving them the life Miss Keller insists they lack. And we, the readers, know that she will, because Trisha is, of course, Patricia Polacco—the master storyteller we love to read.
When tragedy strikes Trisha’s life, her grief does for her writing what nothing else could. The transformation is profound and Trisha’s words take on new meaning. In response, Miss Keller – stoic, tough, and unyielding Miss Keller – not only gives Trisha an A, but also a hug.
While reading, I couldn’t help but imagine Miss Keller in the voice I use for Lt. Colonel Danny Hupfer from Gary D. Schmidt’s The Labors of Hercules Beal. Though one is a fictional character from a middle-grade novel and the other a real-life mentor, both share a similar approach: tough love paired with an uncompromising commitment to drawing out the best in their students.
Polacco has an incredible gift for honoring the teachers and mentors who invested in her life, and she returns that investment tenfold through her heartfelt storytelling. An A From Miss Keller is a tribute to perseverance, the transformative power of grief, and the kind of mentorship that changes lives. This book inspires readers not only to appreciate such mentors but also to strive to be one for others. Polacco makes us want to be the good and do the good.