The Best of Iggy

This section explores the theme of The Importance of Learning From Mistakes as Iggy grapples with the consequences of his actions. After the desk incident, Iggy feels guilty: “He had never felt as terrible as he did then” (64). Unlike the previous episodes, where Iggy’s mischief resulted in minor consequences and no one got seriously hurt, this time the repercussions are more severe. Ms. Schulberger injures her knee and falls, crying. The punishment for Iggy’s antics is suspension from school. Although the book doesn’t detail his parents’ reaction, it’s clear that they are upset, as implied by Chapter 17: “I don’t want to talk about it. All I’m going to say is this: It took a year” (66). With its brevity, Chapter 17 conveys the prolonged impact of Iggy’s actions on his family. It’s a reminder of how moments of misbehavior can resonate beyond the immediate aftermath.

For the first time, Iggy truly feels remorse for his actions. In the previous incidents, Iggy felt remorse mainly because he got caught or had to face minor inconveniences, such as buying new lipstick for his mom. However, this time, Iggy deeply regrets his behavior. On his way to the principal’s office, he cries, and later wishes he didn’t have to go back to school as he feels embarrassed. To show how sorry he is and apologize to Ms. Schulberger, Iggy brings her some heartfelt gifts: a drawing, a letter of apology, and a bag of candy. These gifts symbolize the depth of Iggy’s regret and his character growth. Whereas in Chapter 1, Iggy was shown laughing after the Jeremy incident, this time his actions indicate an understanding that he has done something wrong and needs to make amends. The narrator emphasizes Iggy’s growth with a flashforward: “Even years later, when Iggy thought of the moment Ms. Schulberger turned and saw him and screamed, he felt bad” (70). The narrator explains that the sincerity of Iggy’s apology can potentially be considered an extenuating circumstance, and though Ms. Schulberger is initially upset and confused, stating “I thought we got along” (69), she understands that Iggy didn’t mean to hurt her and ends up smiling and laughing with him.

The aftermath of the desk race also conveys the overarching theme of The Challenges of Growing Up, emphasizing that Iggy still has a lot of maturing to do and often acts without considering the consequences of his actions. When Ms. Schulberger asks why he did what he did, his only explanation is that he thought it would be fun. His response indicates not only a lack of forethought but also a lack of reflection after the fact. He doesn’t seem to understand that his desire for approval from his friends might have motivated him to misbehave. While Iggy accepts responsibility for his actions, a sign of maturity, he is still figuring out what causes him to behave the way he does.

As in the rest of the novel, these last few chapters balance humor with an educational tone, employing language simple enough for middle grade readers to understand. For example, the concept of extenuating circumstances is explained for the third time in straightforward terms: “Officially, extenuating circumstances are things that happen before the person does the bad thing” (70). In Chapter 20, the narrator humorously praises readers for making it to the end of the novel: “Look! You read a twenty-chapter book! What a good kid you are” (71). By adding that the reader is still not as good as Jeremy Greerson and illustrating Jeremy with a halo, wearing his scarf, holding a book, and singing, the author adds a touch of humor and conveys the message that perfection is unattainable.