Review: Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea has been on my TBR pile FOREVER!  I saw Donalyn Miller (@donalynmiller) and John Schu (@mrschureads) talk about this book on Twitter about a year ago and I knew that it was one I had to read.  Then, it became one of the Virginia Reader's Choice books (but I couldn't get my hands on it over the summer), so I never read it.  Finally, FINALLY, over Christmas break, I got that email from my library telling me my hold was there and ready to be picked up.

  

Here is the summary from Amazon:

It’s the start of fifth grade for seven kids at Snow Hill School. There’s . . . Jessica, the new girl, smart and perceptive, who’s having a hard time fitting in; Alexia, a bully, your friend one second, your enemy the next; Peter, class prankster and troublemaker; Luke, the brain; Danielle, who never stands up for herself; shy Anna, whose home situation makes her an outcast; and Jeffrey, who hates school.
 
Only Mr. Terupt, their new and energetic teacher, seems to know how to deal with them all. He makes the classroom a fun place, even if he doesn’t let them get away with much . . . until the snowy winter day when an accident changes everything—and everyone.

I started reading this book with such high hopes, but the more I read it, the more disappointed I became.  This book just wasn't for me---now, it might be for you, but I honestly had to force myself to finish it.

I enjoyed Mr. Terupt's classroom ideas (Hello, Dollar Words!) and management techniques.  I loved how involved the children became with him and each other throughout the year.  But, overall, it just felt stilted to me, like an ideal setting in a perfect classroom. 

Like I said, just because this book wasn't for me, doesn't mean its not for you.  The intended audience is from 4th grade up, but I would suggest it for a more mature reader (not age mature, but one that could handle more mature concepts and situations).