"Because of mr.terupt", a children's novel by Rob Buyea

"Because of Mr. Terupt" a children's novel by Rob Buyea









Rob Buyea, teacher and wrestling coach at Northfield Mount Hermon School, in Massachusetts, has achieved a "Magical" story, not since I read Philip Pullman's "The Golden Compass" have I experienced this magic. Rob has used a unique method in staging this story - using a journal style from the viewpoint of 7 students in Mr. Terupt's class, each viewing the same event just from each student's perspective.







John Irving, says of this book "Even the accident toward which this novel is inevitably headed is no accident: it is as masterfully set up and skillfully concealed as the rest of this riveting story."







Our cast of characters are

Mr. Terupt - rookie teacher to a class of 5th graders at Snow Hill School



Jessica - Jessica and her mother have left California, since her parents are divorcing, she's

the new girl who is smart, with great perceptive powers, having a difficult time

fitting in with the group



Alexia - not much you can say about the class bully, just hope that she will see the error

of her ways and become a more likable person



Peter - class troublemaker, all time prankster, who has good qualities, if only he could

control himself



Luke - the class brain, who is intrigued with Mr. Terupt's approach to math



Danielle - overweight, who needs to learn how to stand up for herself, and to stand up to

Alexia, who pushed Danielle around



Anna - the world is too much against her, her mom made a "mistake", shy Anna suffers

because of it



Jeffery - hates school, can't be friends with anyone, has a terrible family life

Mr. Terupt shakes things up when he announces that the group will be working with the Collaborative Classroom - this is not well taken by Peter, or Alexia, however, Jeffrey comes out of his shell, which is noticed by Jessica. Jeffrey eventually confides in Jessica a "terrible dark secret" about his life.

And then in February, "THE Accident" happens, a small event in most cases, but not in this case. When Peter releases the snowball no one expects it to be so life altering for not only the class, but their families as well.

Mr. Terupt MUST, he just MUST come out of his coma.

Whether you have children, grandchildren or not, this is a very thoughtful, powerful book, and I would highly suggest that you consider reading this one. IT is JUST MAGIC!

I have suggested it to several teachers in the community, and each one has asked the same question "Is this a good read aloud?" YES.

I

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