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.

6 pages, Audible Audio

Expected publication 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.

[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."

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Kenneth Platzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[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.

[Michael]

Review TK.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[Theodore Kinni · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've ever wondered what the teachers who most influenced you were thinking, you'll enjoy this novel. Really good writing, too. Read an advance copy, forthcoming Feb '26

[Joanna Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the president of the Brian Platzer Fan Club!

[Andy Bragen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so love Brian's writing, have admired all of his books. "The Optimists" is my favorite so far. It has so much heart to it, so much pain, and humor. A must-read!