If the title wasn’t a dead giveaway, Jennifer Gavin dedicates DEAR STUDENTS “to all of [her] students: past, present, future, and hypothetical. Even the ones [she] couldn’t reach.” It’s only fair that I admit I was once a student of hers, and so my attachment to her book (along with the pressure to write this review, because I know you’ll read this, Ms. Gavin) is greater than most people’s will be. Regardless, anyone can enjoy this unapologetically genuine account of…well, life. Don’t let the title or my admission of bias fool you: in all its aspects, this book is about life and living it. As Gavin says herself, “Some of it is opinionated, but all of it is sincere.” How often do you find the former paired with the latter nowadays? That alone indicates the value and importance of DEAR STUDENTS.

Gavin’s insights are consistently elaborate and quirky --- just like her AP Literature class was --- speaking to the multifaceted human condition, whether she’s discussing Ray Bradbury or fish (yep, you heard me). She keeps you on your toes by introducing a variety of formats to present these insights: personal essays, dialogues, poetry and more. And while some sections are more engaging than others, her voice is always one worth listening to, both in terms of what she says and how she says it. Indeed, her writing reflects her vast pool of knowledge, wisdom and, most importantly, experience --- all without ever sounding pretentious.

"With its unique blend of [Gavin's] signature humor and authenticity, it will get you laughing as often as it will have you thinking."

Far from an intellectual spewing platitudes from atop an ivory tower, Gavin warmly invites us to participate in conversation, encouraging us to embrace original thought and be compassionate toward one another. In the current digital age, she reminds us of what it truly is to be human, that there’s a big, wide world out there full of interesting people, places and, of course, books to explore.

DEAR STUDENTS contains no glaring flaws or inconsistencies, but I must reiterate and expand upon how some portions just didn’t hook me in. The perfect book is an elusive creature, so this is to be expected, but the high bar Gavin sets with essays like “Writing: Getting Bitter Before Getting Better” and “Tartufo Man” makes certain others pale in comparison. “Super-Teachers and Euclid’s Reluctant Hero” is one such example, starting out strong but faltering about halfway through. I’d be selfish, however, to call this a weakness of the book, as different people appreciate different things; I guarantee that someone out there will call “Super-Teachers and Euclid’s Reluctant Hero” their favorite. Gavin paints with a more diverse palette than most, and that is most definitely a strength on her part. I was always willing to read what she had to write, because again, even if the topic didn’t particularly interest me, her writing is simply absorbing.

Ultimately, DEAR STUDENTS may have been written with Gavin’s students in mind, but it is nonetheless a book for anyone and everyone. With its unique blend of her signature humor and authenticity, it will get you laughing as often as it will have you thinking. Those are two things we could use a lot more of in our everyday lives, don’t you think?