Mr. Terupt Falls Again

Peter’s conflicts in the novel are both internal and interpersonal. His largest internal conflict started in the previous book when he threw the snowball that put Mr. Terupt in a coma. He did not do this on purpose, and Mr. Terupt shows no ill feelings toward him, but he still holds himself responsible. Peter understands that adults tiptoe around him because of this, especially Mrs. Williams. Instead of taking advantage of this, he actually resents the attention because it will harm his chances of failing and not being able to graduate. All along, Peter tells himself that he has to stay to keep an eye on Mr. Terupt, but by the end of the novel, he has come to realize that it is he who needs Mr. Terupt and not the other way around.

His primary interpersonal conflict is with his parents for wanting him to attend a private school after graduation. For much of the novel, he is too afraid to tell them the truth. Instead, he seeks to subvert his parents’ plans, first by failing and then by telling the admissions officer at Riverway that he does not want to attend. Neither of these plans works, but he eventually tells his parents his desires after they confront him.

Peter is a loyal friend, and this plays out in his relationship with Lexie. He does not tell Lexie that he likes her, but he becomes increasingly jealous of her flirtations with Derek and Jason. He also worries because the boys do not respect her. By the end of the novel, Lexie kisses him, and he likes her, but he still sees her as the girl who farted in class, showing that his feelings are appropriate for his age.

Luke does not change as much during the novel as some of the other characters do. The primary conflict he experiences is that of trying to figure out what is wrong with Mr. Terupt. As an intelligent kid, he sees some of the signs that other people miss. One of the themes in the book concerns gathering information and about being forthcoming with information, even to children. Mr. Terupt does not share his health status with the students because he does not want to worry them, but Luke, being resourceful as he is, is able to gather details and come to a conclusion.

Luke’s narrative arc shows the importance of staying true to yourself. When Peter and Jeffrey join the wrestling team, they decide to invite everyone so none of the boys feels left out. Luke is more intellectual than sporty, but he gives it a try. Even though he realizes he doesn’t enjoy it, he is encouraged when he sees his dad in the stands reading a physics book while all the other dads are cheering. It reinforces his identity, and he is proud to be like his dad. He is also one of the characters who benefits from Mr. Terupt’s literature assignments. Luke identifies with Stanley Yelnats in Holes, and this is another factor that helps him feel secure in his identity. Though his character arc is not as dramatic as some of the other students’, he still exhibits growth throughout the novel.

Anna’s main personal task in the novel is to find out more information about her family background. She understands that her life is different from her friends because she only has one parent. As she gets more mature, she realizes that she and her mom do not have to struggle in ways that the others do financially because her mother received their house as an inheritance. After never asking her mom for details about her father, she finally does want to know, and instead of sneaking that information behind her mother’s back, she has the courage to ask her mother directly. Because she has a close relationship with her mother, she does not have to seek attention elsewhere, and she has a stronger sense of herself and her family moving forward.

Danielle has perhaps the most external struggles in the novel. She struggles with her grandparents and parents, who keep the details of the land dispute from her. She goes behind their back to find answers and when she does, she does not let her elders know until her grandmother is in the hospital. One of the themes of the novel concerns withholding information, and Danielle’s situation proves that withholding information does not stop people from worrying, and it can make matters worse.

Danielle also faces an internal struggle in regard to her own changing body. While Lexie knows all about the changes of puberty, Danielle is not as well informed because her family has not explained it to her. Because of this, she thinks there is something wrong with her when she gets her period, and she needs Lexie and the school nurse to help her understand. This further advances the theme that withholding information does not protect people in the long run. Danielle is a kind friend who frequently goes to God with her problems. Most of the problems she runs into are not of her own making but are a result of other people in her life.

Jeffrey’s family goes through the most changes in the novel, and Jeffrey is asked to grow up quickly, as he must confront Asher’s abandonment, his brother’s death, and his parents’ grief. Jeffrey also struggles emotionally with his brother’s loss and must navigate this as he continues to live his life as a sixth grader. His refusal to take Asher to the hospital at first demonstrates that he still has wounds from his brother’s illness. This also becomes clear when he gets mad at Derek for calling Mr. Terupt the R-word. Mr. Terupt sees Jeffrey’s loyalty and parlays his confrontational nature into wrestling, at which Jeffrey excels. Like Mr. Terupt, Jeffrey uses wrestling to help him cope with loss and find purpose. Jeffrey’s strong character is apparent when his parents adopt Asher and joy is brought into his family; he is not jealous, but rather he is happy. This shows that he wants a family, and he wants his loved ones to be happy.

Jessica does not change dramatically throughout the course of the novel, but her chapters provide the most unique form of storytelling. She loves writing, as does her mother, and her chapters are told in the form of a screenplay. Because they are told in this manner, they provide a clear picture of the scenes and the characters’ interactions. Jessica’s thoughts are provided as voiceovers. This reveals that Jessica prefers to remain off-camera and observe what’s going on around her. She is mostly a support character. Like Luke, her primary goals are to find information and help others. She discovers the truth about Mr. Terupt’s parents and shows concern for Lexie when Lexie begins stuffing her bra. Jessica shares her award for The Westing Game with Luke, showing that she values teamwork.

Jessica’s main internal struggle is her semi-estranged relationship with her father. She resents his girlfriend, whom she believes used her looks to steal her father away. Thus, Lexie’s attempts to gain the boys’ attention trigger negative feelings for Jessica. Rather than let that tarnish her relationship with Lexie, however, Jessica rises above her feelings and shows concern when she finds Lexie crying in the bathroom. As the director of Mr. Terupt’s wedding video, Jessica’s point of view frames the novel as having a happy ending.