Saving Mr. Terupt
(Mr. Terupt #3)

Gr 4-7—The Terupt gang is back in the third installment of Buyea's memorable classroom drama series. On the eve of their entry into junior high, the students from Snow Hill School are gearing up for a new year without their beloved teacher. After brainstorming a way to work on a collaborative project in Mr. Terupt's current classroom, the group is able to spend quality time with one another as well as with "Teach." However, tensions flare for some of the friends after a harmless game of Spin the Bottle goes awry. Despite the threat to their friendship, unforeseen circumstances bring the kids back together when they discover that Mr. Terupt needs their help. As the group navigate the ups and downs of team sports, family illness, town budgets, and young love, they begin to realize that the only constant through life's storms is the bond of friendship. Buyea has a knack for making his character's voices distinct. This offering will resonate with tween audiences seeking realistic stories with multifaceted characters. VERDICT Fans of the "Terupt" novels (Random) will cheer as the Snow Hill crowd enters seventh grade, though this latest volume will also appeal to newcomers to the series.—Claire Moore, Darien Library, CT