Because of Mr. Terupt

The novel’s narrative structure emphasizes the individual voice of each student. To draw further attention to the individuality of each student’s narrative voice, the author uses a different font for each student’s name at the beginning of their respective sections. The chosen fonts are representative of each student’s personality: Peter’s font is a somewhat old but comic font, capturing his classic class clown persona. Luke’s font is clear, straightforward, and meticulously accurate in the precision of each letter’s size and place, representing his reliance on order to feel secure. Alexia’s name is a flamboyant script, drawing attention to her flare and the importance she places on beauty. Jessica’s font is clear but has a skewed “e,” representing her general attempts to find logic but occasional slips despite her best efforts, such as when she can’t help but get drawn into Alexia’s drama. Danielle is a modern twist on a classic font with extra curves in the “D” and the “n,” representing her attempts to stay within her family’s traditions as well as her fuller physique. Anna’s name is presented with a lowercase “a” at each side and uppercase “N”, all the same height, representing the line between youth and adulthood that her backstory explores. Jeffrey is bold and straightforward, representing the strength he brings others. 

Mr. Terupt also uses different motivational techniques and approaches for each student. He recognizes their individuality and understands that one approach won’t work universally across the students in his classroom. He connects with Peter by acknowledging his clowning and making a joke, whereas with Anna he connects by listening to her when she’s upset about a plant and promising to replace hers with his own. He understands what each student needs and adjusts his methods accordingly, which in turn makes him special to each of his students.