The Optimists: A Novel

by Brian Platzer

A beloved schoolteacher chronicles the meteoric rise of his most dazzling student in this ambitious, big-hearted work of literary fiction, perfect for fans of Nathan Hill, Susan Choi, and Tess Gunty.

Mr. Keating is an extraordinary teacher: brilliant, dedicated, and possibly a few pages ahead in a book no one else is reading. He’s a magician able to enchant fourteen-year-olds into a love of writing and literature. Yet no student has lived up to the promise of their potential more than Clara Hightower. Over the course of three decades, Clara is a kindergarten thief, a high school genius, a Silicon Valley celebrity, and an animal rights activist turned terrorist.

To tell Clara’s story, Mr. Keating must tell his own, including his courtship and marriage, his dreams of writing and comedy, his days in the classroom in lower Manhattan along with the rivalry and friendship with his Head of School, and his eventual stroke and the isolation that follows.

The Optimists is a love story, a joke book, and a meditation on the meaning of life and death. But mostly it’s a fiercely original novel for anyone who has ever had a teacher or student meaningfully affect their life.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Audiobook, Novels, Ebooks

6 pages, Audible Audio

First published February 24, 2026

About the author

Brian Platzer is the author of BED-STUY IS BURNING ('17) and THE BODY POLITIC ('20) from Atria/Simon & Schuster, and THE TAKING THE STRESS OUT OF HOMEWORK ('20) from Avery/Penguin Random House. Brian has an MFA from the Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars, and a BA from Columbia University. His writing has appeared often in the New Yorker’s Shouts and Murmurs and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, as well as in the New York Times, The New Republic, Salon, and elsewhere. He lives with his wife and two young sons in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, teaches middle school English in Manhattan, and suffers from chronic dizziness.

Reviews

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This was the first book I’ve ever read of its kind where a teacher basically tells us the stories of his years teaching and of the most fascinating students. Mr. Keating reminds me of some of my most favorite teachers from childhood, especially how he can get his students to love reading and writing. Most of all I loved learning about Clara and who she grew up to be especially since she reminds me of myself in subtle ways (animal rights). I loved the timeline jumps and how they helped developed the plot more and I really enjoyed learning more about Mr. Keating. I felt like I knew him in real life. There were many feel good moments in this book and of course some other emotions but this is definitely a book that makes us all reflect on our own Mr. Keatings.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is written from the point of view of former 8th grade English teacher, Mr. Keating (I don’t think we ever learn his first name), with the conceit that he is now in his late 70s and dictating the book we are reading. Ostensibly he is telling us about two special students of his, Clara and Jacob - from when he first meets them as young children to when they are his students to the times they occasionally pop into his life in the years afterward - and in doing so, he tells his own story along with theirs.

I’m not sure that description does this book justice though - it’s incredibly unique with just a certain quirky tone and sense of humor that is difficult to put into words. And slightly odd and memorable characters and moments as well. A very enjoyable read - and another one that wasn’t on my radar til I saw the author was going to be at a multi-author book event I am attending.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown for my e-ARC (out this week); all opinions are my own.

[Leandra Ogas · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 - 4 ⭐️

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and Book Huddle for this eARC!

This book is written from the perspective of Mr. Keating, who is an 8th grade English teacher, and he is telling us the story of one of his students named Clara. We learn about how they met when she was younger, when he taught her and his interactions with her as she got older. It delves into how students can have a lasting effect on their teacher’s lives and vice versa.

I’m having a difficult time rating this book because it’s different from anything I’ve ever read. However, I will say that I felt like I truly came to know these characters and I was reading about their lives. I became very interested in what happened and wanted to know what was going to become of them.

[Lynn Krueger-Andes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book blew me away, in the best way possible. I went in with no expectations and was floored. I INHALED this book! This is a poignant, character driven novel and is unlike anything I've ever read. I literally laughed out loud multiple times and even cried at the end (and I do not cry super easily in books). The punny jokes reminded me of my dad, who passed in 2024 and it brought me so much joy. This book touched my heart in so many different ways, I want everyone to read it. I was even more emotional about this book when I learned that Mr. Keating was a real person who was the author's teacher and mentor. GAH so sweet!

This story follows Mr. Keating, an 8th grade English teacher who is telling this story with his eyes. Yes, you read that right. He has suffered a stroke and he uses his eyes to spell out the story with some kind of amazing technology. He tells the story of a girl, Clara, who he met at age 5 when she tried to steal something from a birthday party. He doesn't see her again until she's in his class, and she is the most brilliant student (both before, during, and after). The story follows Mr. Keating and Clara, and some incredible side characters, Enid, Jacob, and Richy (to name a few). I don't want to say anymore because I don't want to spoil it and also, truthfully, because I cannot do it justice.

Some of my favorite parts include:
"Teaching is the greatest act of optimism--Colleen Wilcox, Santa Clara County superintendent of schools" (epigraph)
"It was all an act but none of it was. Or a better way of putting it: I knew it was silly. Its purpose was to be silly... We middle-school teachers know the value of being silly in order to be serious."
"their relationship just seemed so lovely and odd--he, tall and apathetic; she, confident and curious. His presence made her more relatable. And her hand in his made his awkwardness seem like evidence of an inner complexity."
"What a friendship can't survive is a lack of vulnerability."
"She was our best hope at relevance."
"My life with Clara had a plot. My life with Caroline was something bigger, more amorphous, shapeless, and all-encompassing."
"There's not a moment of a day when I don't miss her. She made my thoughts matter. She made me matter. She still does."

JOKES!
Knock-knock -- who's there? -- a broken pencil -- a broken pencil who? Never mind, it's pointless.
The plague, the flu, and the common cold walk into a doctor's office. The doctor asks, "What is this? Some kind of sick joke?"
What happened to the man who fell into the coals of the bonfire? He was ember-assed.

I also learned a lot! A preposition is anywhere a mouse can go!

I am forever a Brian Platzer fan and look forward to reading his backlist! Highly highly recommend The Optimists!!!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Optimists” by Brian Platzer is a rare and profound novel that will stay with you well after you finish the last page.
It’s the chronicle of a gifted English teacher who is seriously ill while writing this narrative. He is both brilliant and flawed and is telling the story of his most unforgettable student. He speaks of her childhood and how she grows into a prodigy, a Silicon Valley tech star, and ultimately an animal rights activist. But in telling her story he must reveal his own. His marriage, his abandoned dreams of writing, his long teaching career, and his profound impact on the students he taught.
It is a memoir of a great schoolteacher & mentor, and it reminds us of the transformative power of a teacher’s small acts of encouragement. The book is beautifully written, nostalgic and a bit sad all at the same time. I loved it!

Trigger Warning: for anyone who will be affected by descriptions of farm animal cruelty.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review for this book was published by Library Journal in December 2025:

It’s often said one never forgets their favorite teacher, and for at least one student at a marginally prestigious private school in Platzer’s (Bed-Stuy Is Burning) charming latest, Mr. Keating is that teacher, known for his Ember Exam, a self-devised “pedagogy of joy” that combines his curriculum with his love for a well-crafted joke. The novel sees Mr. Keating recounting the circumstances that brought the prodigiously talented Clara Hightower (the only student who achieved the level of Archon on his exam) to his eighth-grade English class. Clara’s nascent genius, tempered by a sketchy background and a penchant for rebellious behavior, is obvious to everyone around her: to Mr. Keating, to her boyfriend, and to the headmaster, who sees Clara’s inevitable success as the school’s ticket to national recognition. Even after she graduates and the yearly drumbeat of new students marches on, Clara continues to orbit Mr. Keating’s life, as she morphs from Silicon Valley visionary to animal-rights advocate; the latter role will test Mr. Keating’s loyalty to his star pupil. VERDICT Platzer’s amiable story is a love letter to teaching and knock-knock jokes alike and will be a solid addition to literary fiction collections.

Copyright ©2025 Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. Reprinted with permission.

[Jason Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Keating is the optimist. He’s an eighth grade English teacher at St. George’s Episcopal School. He tells his own story and that of his favourite student, Clara Hightower. Though Clara is the primary character, there are many other characters in pivotal roles especially as it relates to Clara. The other characters are Jacob; his mother, and Mr. Keating’s co-worker, Enid Smeal; the head of the school, Richard Kingsley Madison IV; and Mr. Keating’s wife, Caroline.

This was a unique story and very different from what I normally read. It was warm, endearing, humorous, philosophical, and, to an extent, eccentric. Many of the characters had their eccentricities. It was surprisingly emotional and I felt a connection to many of the characters, especially Jacob and Clara. It’s a story of life, love, family and what makes a family.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Optimists by Brian Platzer. This book is to be published on February 24, 2026.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author (Brian Platzer) and I was hooked in the story and his writing style almost immediately. We have all had a teacher at some point or another that managed to sink their claws into a bit of our soul, but the main character of Mr. Keating took a refreshing perspective and reflected on his years of teaching with those he met along the way: From colleagues and personal relationships to parents and students, Mr. Keating isolates his thoughts on two particular students that he taught that changed his life forever (while also hoping he changed theirs just as much). I admit the style gives you a bit of whiplash, as Mr. Keating's character is "not well" in the present and is flipping from his memories and the present throughout the story- BUT the 'jokes' he tells/explains along the way are like little intermissions that help the reader to re-center and dive back in. This story gives strong Dead Poets Society vibes, but also has a more modern twist to it. Overall this story is pretty nostalgic, and I'd love to recommend it to anyone that can instantly remember a teacher that was involved in their life beyond the walls of the classroom or hallways of school.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Some favorite words:
"We human beings are all a mishmash of greatness and littleness. Some have more strength of character or more opportunity and so in one direction or another give their instincts freer play, but in terms of potential, we are the same... For my part I don't think I'm any better or any worse than anyone else, but I know that if I chronicled every action I've taken or thought that's crossed my mind, most people would consider me a monster of depravity. Our thoughts are ugly, vicious, lascivious, violent, terrified things. In our brains, we are all animals. We are human only in our ability to suppress or, at the very least, not act on our thoughts."
"I know grief. You don't forget details. It's the opposite. Details torment you. They swirl through your mind in a relentless, agonizing loop until you think you'll go mad. The phone call you let go through to voicemail because you were too busy reading a book. The offhandedness of that last text message. The endless, haunting, unchangeable dance of all that was said and unsaid as life pushes you further from the opportunity you lost to make things right."

[Matt Bender · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Optomists is a hagiography of a former student by her 8th grade teacher. It was occasionally interesting. More often I was creeped out by the prep school faculty who are either patronizing or deifying their students, particularly their primary subject, Clara. I probably can’t exaggerate ho much I disliked the main character, her teacher who is narrator. He is always watching her, remarking her relationships, and reminding her “to check her baser instincts.” Here he is trying to persuade her on what high school to attend:

“Before she had to finalize her decision. I told her what I thought: Namely, that she’d be a fool to attend Dalton. That it would either make her feel bad about herself or turn her into something she didn’t want to become. I didn’t say what was also true: That she’d found something that seemed, at least from the outside, to be true love with Jacob, and if she attended a downtown school or even a school with a more typical student body, she and Jacob might stay together, whereas that would be tremendously difficult if she attended Dalton.”

How horrifying a teacher would say that. On top of his behavior toward Clara, he also makes his students call his classroom Emberland, has a weird testing ritual, seems focused on the wrote memorization of arcane grammar rules. The rest of the faculty is arguably worse and the only decent piece of education in the book was a commencement speech the narrator mocks.

None of this is necessary because to explain Clara who basically struck me as fairly typical is bother intelligence and behavior. But it seems meant to portray Eighth grade teachers over indulging in their students lives and trying to rationalize it.

[SA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads, the author and publisher for an ARC copy of this book.

When I liked best about this book is that the main character was very real, very human. So much so that I found myself checking more than once to see whether the book was classified as fiction or a memoir since it reads as the latter. I found his humor and fondness for his students endearing.

The genuineness of his story was refreshing and it brought me back to when I was in 8th grade. He reminded me of my own teacher who motivated me to learn and grow as a person. This made Clara so relatable as I can say that was the time in life when I myself was most optimistic, as life was an open book with so many possibilities.

[AvidReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A uniquely great read from the perspective of a caring teacher who follows 2 students through their intertwining lives. Wonderfully developed characters stayed with this reader long after the last page of the book.

[Michael Gettlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Optimists is easily the best novel of the year. Platzer masterfully shares Clara Hightower's story by introducing us to Mr. Keating. This incredible work brings the familiar student and teacher relationship to life. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience this literary gift.

[Kenneth Platzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story beautifully written. A perfect tribute to the ever-inspirational Rod Keating!

[Hana Duckworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quietly beautiful.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Optimists takes us inside the mind of a beloved middle school English teacher, but is far more than a poignant elegy to an eccentric role model. Platzer has the rare ability to bring characters to life with equal parts humor and gravity. Don't miss out on this riveting read.

[Genevieve Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Optimists” by Brian Platzer is a multi-layered and complex novel. It is the story of the life of a middle-school teacher. The format implies a memoir, though one that skips around in time, reports information learned through others and uses a variety of literary devices. However, though our middle school teacher, Rod Keating, is firmly ensconced in the first-person point of view, the character who holds the spotlight is his star student, Clara. Each of Parts 1-5 of the Book is named for Clara in a different stage of her development. She represents the action, but Rod Keating controls both the internal dialogue and the meaning of the story.

This book will interest literary readers because of its structure and the ways that Platzer plays with language and plot. It will interest teachers, parents, and mentors – anyone who has dedicated their life to passing along something they believe to be important. Some will enjoy the comments on grammar and the descriptions of why various jokes are funny – with the descriptions often being more humorous than the jokes they are describing. Some will want to get back to the action and find out what is happening to Clara. Either way, they’ll want to keep reading.

"The Optimists" will speak to many people. It’s a book that is likely to generate conversation. It’s a book with enough nuance to read more than once - a book worth reading and thinking about.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown, & Co. for access to ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

[John Rensink · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Optimists is one of those rare novels that lingers long after the last page. Through the eyes of Mr. Keating, an English teacher whose voice is warm, self-deprecating, and deeply human, we’re drawn into the life of his extraordinary student, Clara Hightower, and the web of relationships that shape her journey.

Mr. Platzer has written a story that is at once tender, witty, and surprisingly profound. The characters aren’t just believable; they feel lived-in, with quirks, flaws, and flashes of brilliance that make you want to spend more time with them. I found myself especially moved by the bond between Mr. Keating and Clara, equal parts mentor, confidant, and friend, because it captures the transformative power of great teachers and the resilience of young people finding their way.

What makes this book shine is how it balances humor and philosophy with genuine emotional depth. The time jumps add richness rather than confusion, showing us how moments in the classroom ripple out over years. It’s a story about family in all its forms, about the small acts of encouragement that shape lives, and about what it really means to be an optimist when life throws its hardest challenges at you.

Beautifully written and quietly powerful, The Optimists reminds us of the teachers and mentors who changed our lives, and perhaps even challenges us to consider how we may do the same for others.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian Platzer's THE OPTIMISTS is almost a 5 out of 5 but I give it a 4 because I believe, and you may disagree, that the ending is a cop out, as the narrator admits--"I realized I not going to finish the novel...It's good enough, or at least as good as I can make it." That's just not true. THE OPTIMISTS is excellent, but the ending is not nearly as good as he could make it; the book just stops. But the novel earns a 4 because it's excellent and original, unique. Writing the story in honor of his 8th grade teacher (after becoming one himself), Platzer truly explores the dedication (balanced with an almost creepy obsession) that middle school teachers have with their best students, this one concentrating on two students, Clara (especially) and Jacob. I don't think you can love Mr. Keating. He may teach well but he borders on stalky in his fascination with Clara (even organizing the book around her). The novel is funny, especially his obvious explications of "dad" jokes, and it's organized around fascinating concepts in a manner resembling a diary, often seemingly too personal. But the readers will find themselves speeding through the story, almost as anxious to hear about Clara, but thankfully, not tragically interested like the very strange, fascinating, and well-meaning unreliable narrator.

[sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Optimists is a friendly, feel-good novel that touches on all of the points of the "most inspirational teacher at the prep school trope" and adds a slight twist--this time, the protagonist of the story is the teacher, not the student. Rod Keating, 8th grade English teacher at a small private school in downtown Manhattan, is our eccentric narrator. He has a penchant for correct grammar, 'cute but not cutesy' things, and explaining knock-knock jokes. He is also coming to terms with the results of a stroke that has left him completely paralyzed and unable to speak. In an effort to justify his chosen profession, he embarks on the story of his most exceptional student, who he believes is the appropriate culmination of all of his hard work.

The story is strongest in the middle sections, where our narrator is most fully in the classroom, observing the lives of the students around him, though it falters slightly as he continues to observe his now-grown pupils from afar. Still, this is a joyful, nostalgic celebration of the teacher/student relationship, and a testament to how meaningful of a role it can play in the life of both.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown, & Co. for access to ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 4? 3.5? I have to think about it

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I thought it was very well-written. I read it quickly and it held my interest, but there was just something a little off--I am not sure if I liked it or not. I think I didn't like the narrator. His involvement and interest in a couple of his students' lives was a little creepy and a little unbelievable (as was his total disinterest in most of the others'). And the story as told didn't seem realistic. I don't think he could have had that much detail on his former students' lives based on the amount of interaction he said he had with them. Clara is supposed to be a super genius, but she came across as super smart but not exceptional. I mean, he included the supposedly super hard questions that led to her being the only student to pass the grammar test, and it seems like if the teacher was as amazing as he was, most students should have been able to answer them correctly. And then it just went on too long. But I am torn because it was well-written and I did keep reading even though I didn't love the characters. Also almost all of the jokes weren't funny, but I think maybe that was the point. Possibly??

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this. There's plenty in it that's charming. Two of the three main characters are well drawn (Mr. Keating, an 8th grade English teacher who tells this in the first person, and his one-tie student Jacob). And two of the three main characters are interesting (Jacob and everyone's obsessive object, classmate, onetime girlfriend Clara). Some of the events, personalities, and relationships are plausible enough, though others require more of a suspension of disbelief than I'm capable of. Most of the jokes dropped into the text are not funny, though that may be intentional - or just that my sense of humor and Platzer's don't align.

The real problem is that I'm supposed to care, and then to be moved. I didn't and wasn't. I'm giving it three stars, though it's really more like 2.5.

[Puja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Platzer has created a rare story that delves into deep themes, yet is able to hold on to a world of innocence and goodness. The character of Mr. Keating feels so human, full of follies, but his passion for his job, the students and his brilliant mind shines through.
What I especially enjoyed were the little nuggets of grammar, language and structure tidbits that was peppered throughout the book. It felt like a unique learning experience.
Sometimes, the timelines are confusing, but the structure kept me centered at all times, which kept me invested. The writing is sparse, funny, optimistic (like its title) and surprisingly accessible.
I like a literary novel that does not take itself too seriously.

[Jonathan Dascal · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a New York Giants and New York Mets fan, my life has been pretty miserable for the better part of a decade. Just as I was ready to give up all hope on experiencing any happiness in my life I read Brian Platzer's latest novel. I've been a fan of his writing since I read his first book, Bed Stuy is Burning. Now even though The Mets and Giants still suck, I have cause for celebration. Thank you Mr. Platzer for giving me a much-needed moment of joy for my otherwise miserable existence.

[JXR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic work telling the story of both a genius student and what happened to her, and of her teacher, all told from his perspective. well-written, beautiful, and an interesting work. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

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[Alisha Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!!
Thank you book huddle for the eARC.
Gosh I didn’t know what I was getting into when starting this book. The cover didn’t give anything away. This was a strange book. lol. There were parts I was very bored but also parts I wanted to keep reading. The jokes were corny but some I was literally LOL. Clara bugged me and I was annoyed with her but loved the ending. It was an up and down book forsure and interesting.

[Lauren Stroud · Rating 3 out of 5]

The academic in me was drawn to the premise of this one, and it’s definitely a story that I’m glad I read. A mildly snarky tribute to the power of teachers—and people in general—in our lives, this book made me laugh out loud and made me think, too.

Clara is Mr. Keating’s most outstanding student, and telling her story is something he feels genuinely compelled to do—even after a stroke has left him unable to traditionally communicate. He marvels at her brain and frets over her bad decisions, but he adores her to his core.

This book was wickedly funny and so very smart, and I enjoyed the quick pace of the narrative. The audio was well-done, although this is honestly one I think I would have enjoyed reading with my eyes, as well.

Is there a teacher you still remember making a positive impact on your life?

[Kelly Leahy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎧 4.5 ⭐️- brilliant!!!! I’m wondering if this is truly this good to everyone, or did it work for me specifically because it’s told from the perspective of Mr. Keating, an 8th grade reading and writing teacher?! Regardless, I loved. I thought it was such a creative way to tell a story, and I loved all the jokes sprinkled in.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's irreverent, and very funny, but not cynical. The writing is so sharp and effortless, but there is heft to the story and it goes surprising and very moving places. I adore a good prep-school novel, and this is a great one.

[David Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Platzer's best book yet. The profound empathy that shines through in his brilliantly crafted, complex and deeply human characters, paired with his signature wit and creativity, made this a book I never wanted to end. I can’t wait to see what he gets up to next!

[Megon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was interesting and pulled me into the story. But also a little odd and it left me feeling a little off. Well written, and it definitely makes you feel something. I did get this book from Goodreads.