Mr. Teacher is the fictional story of a young, one-room country school teacher. Set in northern Minnesota during the last year of World War II, Ernie Juvland goes through a hellish first year, but discovers that he has a natural talent for teaching. He boards with a farm family and soon develops a close bond with Carla Henning, the 39-year-old farmer's wife. Carla is a strong woman who helps Ernie stay afloat, as he faces a series of crises, exacerbated by early manifestations of mental illness. Readers will discover how children, like Carla's young son, Dale, learned in one-room schools and meet poor rural families living under the constant strain of war. This novel is recommended for adult readers.