Goodbye, Mr. Terupt

In "Goodbye, Mr. Terupt" by Rob Buyea, the story follows seven kids from Mr. Terupt's fifth-grade class as they reunite with their beloved teacher during their eighth-grade year. Now in middle school, Jeffrey, Alexia, Anna, Danielle, Luke, Peter, and Jessica still turn to Mr. Terupt for advice on personal challenges and dilemmas.

Each of the characters is dealing with their own struggles: Jeffrey is torn between his ambition to make varsity wrestling and the cost of his actions; Alexia faces anxiety over a DNA test that could reveal if she has the same cancer gene as her mother; Anna feels neglected by her mom and hurt by Jeffrey's coldness; Danielle's diabetes poses challenges, but her relationship with Luke is even more complicated; Luke is grappling with his schoolwork and his feelings for Danielle; Jessica, struggling with her dad's return, channels her emotions into writing poetry; and Peter, angry at what he perceives as a betrayal, shuts Mr. Terupt out.

As the kids plan bucket-list projects to make their last year together memorable, they must navigate these difficulties and grow. The novel explores themes of friendship, personal growth, and the enduring impact of a beloved teacher as the kids face their challenges and work toward making their final year with Mr. Terupt one to remember.