Friday, October 29, 2010

because of mr. terupt by Rob Buyea


The Cybil’s list of middle-grade fiction is full of 144 books. Our task is to read the first 50 pages of as many books as possible and then marrow it down. Not an easy endeavor, especially if they are like because of mr. terupt by Rob Buyea. At page 98 I realized I was way past the 50 page minimum.

SPOILER ALERT!!!

I don’t cry. Plain and simple I don’t cry. I have a good reason for not crying. It is too hard to stop. I don’t like the feeling of losing control. It took many years for this to happen. The event that put me to the point of no more tears happened 20 years ago. I spent too many days crying while my brother laid in a coma with a brain injury. For a long time I thought it was my fault. Why didn’t I just drive him to the bank? I was an adult so I realized that it wasn’t my fault. It was just an accident. This book made me cry and I didn’t care. Actually, I do care. It is such a special book that it deserves my tears and laughter. Thank you Mr. Buyea.

As teachers we read many books that touch us and more importantly we get to spend our day with children that touch us and make us better people. because of mr. terupt is a book that has both. It is a beautiful book about a class of fifth graders and a new teacher. The book is told by seven of the students. I love books like this because it is a graet way to teach voice and narration to kids. My spoiler gives away that someone ends up in a coma with a brain injury; but as Jessica, one of the students, tell Mr Terupt she likes happy endings. This book does have one.

I first I thought this would be a great read aloud. I’m not sure. The tears are still fresh. I will get back to you if I do. What I can say is enjoy this first novel.
Thank you delacorte press and Random House for the book.

4 comments:

Mary Lee said...

Thanks for nominating Mr. Terupt for our Cool Teachers list. Now I'm off to Amazon to put this book in my cart -- sounds like a great one. Stories that are told vividly enough to make me cry (or laugh out loud) are my favorites.

Ms. Yingling said...

This is one I have to read!

Unknown said...

What a personal review.

I bawled while I was reading this book. I don't cry much in life, but books make me cry all the time. I cry in the happy endings, and I cry when they are sad.

I enjoyed this book a lot too. My 12-year-old daughter liked it too, even though she doesn't like "sad books."

My book blog: 5 Minutes for Books

janet said...

My book club group at school just finished reading "Because of Mr. Terupt". What an incredible read! I didn't dare read ahead of my students because I wanted to experience this book at the same time my students did, every single page! Can't wait to see what Rob Buyea has for us next! Janet