[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

4.5 stars - Loved it! Would re-read.

This was a DELIGHTFUL wrap up of this terrific series. It has been literally years since I read the first three books in the series, but it was easy to step back into these characters and these relationships. I think newcomers could start here, but some of the magic won't be there because of a lack of history with the characters. If you can, read these in order.

There's a lot going on here - most of the kids are dealing with issues in their personal lives, the couples in the group have their ups and downs, and then they are all dealing with Mr. Terupt's news and the impact of that. Middle school issues - dating, health, friendships, break ups, a potential eating disorder, sports, etc. - might appeal more to the kids at the upper end of the middle grade range. There were several hilarious moments and even more that left me in tears. For me this was the perfect send off for these characters. Fans of this series should not miss this last hurrah with these characters. Newcomers should check out the whole series - it's fantastic! (TW: Eating disorder, cancer in remission)

Wait wait wait, there's a FOURTH?!
*bursts into hysterical happy tears*

I'm so excited!! To read this!!!!
Please!!! Library!!! Please have it!!!

I thought the series was just going to be a trilogy, and its such a nice surprise that there's another one!

*eeeeeeeeee!!*

I agree with the other people who are writing in their reviews that the title is making them nervous...

(is it possible to be extremely over the moon happy and biting your tongue off nervous at the same time?)

a sweet, heartwarming book perfect for a rainy day (disclaimer: HEAVY on the foreshadowing, but it's kind of endearing)

I absolutely love this book! I got it off of Amazon and read it all in one sitting! It is a great story for kids, but I think anyone would enjoy reading it. The ending is kind of sad, and I wish I could find out more about what happens to the characters, but it does finish on a pretty good note. This book is probably my favorite out of the Mr. Terupt series.

Oh my. Rob Buyea does it again. I’ve loved following Mr. Terupt and the seven students (Jeffrey, Luke, Peter, Alexia, Anna, Jessica, and Danielle) from his old fifth grade class through books #1 to #3. There was a little bit of concern that this story might not be as meaningful, but those fears were completely unnecessary. In this book, the kids are in 8th grade while Mr. Terupt is still back in 7th grade, but they still get to see him for their advisory period and he’s still involved with the wrestlers. The book begins with the seven students learning that Mr. Terupt is moving away to be closer to his wife’s family. This is a shock to everyone. So to cope with the separation, they do two things: (1) create a time capsule to open at the end of the school year, and (2) they create a bucket list of things to do before he’s gone.

While the character development in the previous three books was really good, I felt like I truly got to know each of these students, deeply, in this final(?) book. There’s a great deal of focus on Jeffrey who is attempting to lower his weight to join the high school wrestling team. His emotions are all over the place, for that reason. And he will have some regrets to face before the end of this book. Peter is angry from the moment he finds out Mr. Terupt is leaving. Like, over the top angry. So that was difficult to witness without just wanting to shake him up. Luke is such a wonderful scientist. His fascination with learning is inspiring and a joy to witness. Danielle has a lot to deal with due to managing her diabetes, but she also shows some romantic interest for the first time in the series. Anna is navigating feelings about her relationship with her mom, feeling unimportant in the midst of change. I think Lexie matures the most in this one. She’s always been rather dramatic and in this book she is completely invested in her mom’s illness while also facing the possibility that she carries the gene that will make her ill one day. And finally, Jessica seems quite mature for her age. Always attempting to keep up group morale while navigating her parent’s potentially mended relationship.

I could not get over the number of hilarious scenes, so masterfully written to make me laugh out loud — from experiences with a breast milk pump to a final surprise gift left for Mr. Terupt, from Peter. Yet tears were inevitable. I think the height of my emotions came during a bucket list project where students raise funds by agreeing to have their heads shaved. It was incredibly moving to see the selflessness, maturity, and bravery these students displayed for no other reason than love and empathy.

While I’m not certain that this is the conclusion to this series, it would certainly be a good one. Everything ended on a high note with a mixture of laughter, tears, and hope in those final pages. There was that lingering feeling that Mr. Terupt has been there for us all over the years — steady, strong, patient, and kind. Now I’m super excited for Buyea’s next middle grade novel, What Comes Next, coming out June 2021.

My thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with an e-ARC so that I could share my honest review. Goodbye, Mr. Terupt is available now in bookstores, everywhere.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!