Fifth grade was an unforgettable year for the students in Mr. Terupt's class, and Mr. Terupt touched the lives of several of his students in meaningful ways. For sixth grade, Mr. Terupt is back on his feet after his accident, and has been given the opportunity to teach his best group of kids for one more year. Peter likes Mr. T. so much that he's devised a plan to fail the class, so his parents won't send him away to private school next year. Lexie needs Mr. T. more than ever when she gets pulled into a group of older kids who lead her astray. Jeffery makes a discovery that will change his and his grieving family's lives forever. It's a rollercoaster ride again in Mr. Terupt's class this year as he guides his students through events large and small in their lives. The biggest event though might just be the one Mr. Terupt needs his students to help guide him through.

Mr. Terupt Falls Again is the companion and followup book to Because of Mr. Terupt. While it's not necessary to have read the first book to enjoy the second, it is helpful to understand the journeys of each of the seven students who narrate. The students experience several life events, and Mr. Terupt is a caring and insightful teacher (at times he seems almost magical to his kids!) who guides them. One girl is sucked into a group of high school students that intimidate her into trying cigarettes, and show her marijuana and vodka in a water bottle. Another boy finds an abandoned baby, who is later adopted by a family. Some general discussion ensues about why a baby might be abandoned. A daughter of a single mother finds out that her mom had a baby out of wedlock and was ostracized for it. All in all, the kids go through several big experiences, but have positive outcomes in the end. There are excellent lessons about the power of sticking together with your friends, and about learning to stand up and voice your opinion when you see an injustice. Literature fans will appreciate Mr. Terupt teaching his students to make personal connections with the books that they read, and several modern classic titles are referenced. There are several passages about menstruation (think Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret), which boy readers may not appreciate. Some of the boys' segments involve a fair amount of fart and potty humor. And while the reader may be concerned about Mr. Terupt's safety, based on the title of the book, he or she can rest assured that it refers instead to matters of the heart.

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