Having moved from California because her parents have just divorced, Jessica appreciates the way he relates to her since he is also new, and Anna, who tries to stay in the background because her mother is a social outcast, likes the way he subtly draws her into class discussions.

Luke is the most studious and always has great grades, so he appreciates the creative class projects Mr. Terupt devises, while the more morose Jeffrey just hopes to be ignored.

When a game of roughhousing goes too far, Mr. Terupt is hit with an icy snowball and goes into a coma, having previously sustained a number of concussions as a high school and college wrestler.

The accident has a dramatic impact on all the students, who worry about the role they played; however, it soon becomes obvious that the teacher's influence on them continues even when he is unable to interact with them.

Jeffrey, who has long felt guilty because his stem cell and bone marrow donations were unable to save his brother's life, finally reaches out to his grieving parents and tries to put his family together again.