Because of Mr. Terupt

Because of Mr. Terupt (2010) is a middle-grade novel that takes place in Mr. Terupt’s fifth-grade class at Snow Hill School in Connecticut. The story is told from the perspectives of seven individual students in Mr. Terupt’s class. Mr. Terupt himself is a new teacher who attempts to teach lessons about personal responsibility, but his good intentions backfire when he falls victim to a tragic schoolyard accident that leaves him in a coma. The novel addresses themes of guilt, parent-child relationships, and cooperation.

Author Rob Buyea taught third grade, fourth grade, and high school before becoming a full-time writer. He also has a background in coaching wrestling (likewise, Mr. Terupt was a wrestler in his youth). Because of Mr. Terupt was Buyea’s first book and is an E. B. White Read Aloud Honor Book. Rob Buyea has written two sequels to Because of Mr. Terupt: Mr. Terupt Falls Again and Saving Mr. Terupt.

This summary is based on the 2011 First Yearling Edition.

Plot Summary

The novel spans 10 months and follows the school year chronologically from September through June. The first chapter introduces each of the seven individual students who narrate the story: Peter, Jessica, Luke, Alexia, Jeffrey, Danielle, and Anna.

Rivalries and friendships develop among the students and intensify as the school year continues. By the time November comes around, Peter establishes himself not only as a class clown but also as a potentially dangerous prankster. Meanwhile, Mr. Terupt introduces his class to the Collaborative Classroom downstairs, a classroom for students with disabilities. 

Despite a series of bullying incidents and class disruptions, Mr. Terupt’s class earns a free play day for achieving 27 days of good behavior. The class decides to use half of their free time indoors and half outdoors for snow play. The play becomes increasingly rough, and other students pummel Peter into the snow. Peter throws a snowball in retaliation, accidentally hitting Mr. Terupt in the head and leaving him in a coma.

Each student visits Mr. Terupt in the hospital, except for Jeffrey, who blames himself for the accident and wants to go back to not caring about school again. Anna initiates a group visit, which serves to break down the barriers among girls in the class. The students each struggle with guilt over their role in the accident. A goodbye party for a student in the Collaborative Classroom brings everyone’s emotions to a climax as the students forgive one another for their roles in Mr. Terupt’s accident.

Mr. Terupt, still in a coma, undergoes brain surgery, and his students come to the hospital to support him. They bond over sharing stories about their teacher and the lessons they’ve learned from him. On the last day of school, Mr. Terupt makes a surprise return to his classroom. Not only has he come out of his coma and recovered from brain surgery, but he will also be their teacher again next year as they head into sixth grade together.