Dear Teacher - by Maddalena Vaglio Tanet (Paperback)

About the Book

"One morning, a teacher disappears into the woods. As whispers fill her classroom and relatives scour the streets, she melts into a wild landscape, a darkly entrancing place where boars roam free, silver birches tower overhead, and the air is filled with the songs of ancient birds. Sinking deeper into a bed of moss and her own memories, the teacher seeks refuge from the shocking news of a favorite student's death--a death in which she may have played an unwitting part. Back in town, behind shuttered windows and on factory floors, the mystery of the woman's disappearance takes hold. Who is Silvia really? A teacher of rare kindness, living outside of expectations, or a solitary misfit without a family of her own? When another student stumbles upon her hiding place, a solitary boy with his own troubles, it seems like the search might be over. But what do you do with a missing woman who doesn't want to be found? Lushly written and told with mesmerizing intensity, compassion, and warmth, The Teacher is an atmospheric debut that explores human vulnerability and connection, isolation and community, hope and healing, and what it means to return to ourselves." --Front cover flap.

Book Synopsis

"Maddalena Vaglio Tanet captivates us from the very first sentence, telling through her stirring style the depths of fear and breadth of the human heart. As if Elena Ferrante's heroines had come to northern Italy to find themselves caught between tender longings and bitter disappointments."--Floran Illies, bestselling author of 1913

With the depth and emotional power of Go as a River and Dear Edward, a poignant and evocative debut novel from an exhilarating new international talent, based on a true story, about the heartwarming bond that develops between a grieving teacher and a student.

One morning, a teacher disappears into the woods. As whispers fill her classroom and relatives scour the streets, she melts into a wild landscape, a darkly entrancing place where boars roam free, silver birches tower overhead, and the air is filled with the songs of ancient birds. Sinking deeper into a bed of moss and her own memories, the teacher seeks refuge from the shocking news of a favorite student's death--a death in which she may have played an unwitting part.

Back in town, behind shuttered windows and on factory floors, the mystery of the woman's disappearance takes hold. Who is Silvia really? A teacher of rare kindness, living outside of expectations, or a solitary misfit without a family of her own?

When another student stumbles upon her hiding place, a solitary boy with his own troubles, it seems like the search might be over. But what do you do with a missing woman who doesn't want to be found?

Lushly written and told with mesmerizing intensity, compassion, and warmth, The Teacher is an atmospheric debut that explores human vulnerability and connection, isolation and community, hope and healing, and what it means to return to ourselves.

Review Quotes

"Vivid, beguiling and needle-sharp . . . stirs out darkest impulses." -- Lucy Rose, bestselling author of The Lamb

"An unexpected bond develops between a teacher who is mourning and a student in this heartwarming and haunting novel.... With atmospheric and lyrical writing, the emotional weight of grief is clearly and carefully laid out...This intimate and elegantly restrained novel is a meditative journey through sorrow and solace." -- Apple Books

"A compelling exploration of personal growth and self-discovery. Vaglio's ability to blend introspective storytelling with deep emotional resonance is evident throughout this novel. The narrative delves into the complexities of life's unspoken lessons and the impact they have on personal transformation . . . lyrical prose and insightful character development create a moving and thought-provoking reading experience." -- Glamour

"A powerful exploration of the fragility of the ties that bind us to society and loved ones." -- Marie Claire (UK)

"Tanet's skill is to use short chapters shuttling between characters to create a matrix of voices, relationships, gossip and guilt. But in a book full of upended expectations, the most surprising detail is that it is all based on a true story." -- The Guardian

"A debut novel from one of Italy's most exciting new feminist authors." -- Service95

"Maddalena Vaglio Tanet captivates us from the very first sentence, telling through her stirring style the depths of fear and breadth of the human heart. As if Elena Ferrante's heroines had come to northern Italy to find themselves caught between tender longings and bitter disappointments." -- Floran Illies, bestselling author of 1913

?"A mysterious and elegant novel, full of fears and tenderness, where getting lost in the woods can be a choice and a destiny and a regeneration." -- Veronica Raimo, author of Lost on Me

"Dear Teacher has a powerfully hypnotic draw."
-- Booklist