48 pages • 1 hour read
Gillian McDunnCaterpillar Summer
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2019A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 29-34Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 29 Summary
The day before the contest is a rainy one and Macon is distracted by tracking the weather for the following day. He buys rain gear for Cat just in case. Cat admits to Lily that she will be disappointed if she does not win, though does not confide that it is beating John Harvey, not the prize money, that motivates her.
Chapter 30 Summary
The day of the contest arrives, and Macon accompanies Cat to the pier where the other contestants are gathered. Dean from the bait shop reads the rules and the contest begins. John Harvey catches the first fish, though before too long, Cat catches a four-pounder.
She takes a break and tries some hush puppies from the food truck, then returns to fishing. Macon stops by and Cat learns that John Harvey is in first place, which Macon finds surprising, but Cat does not. Chicken and Lily arrive after a visit to the library. Lily tells Cat that Mom will be late, and Cat worries that she may miss the contest altogether.
After Lily and Chicken leave, Macon and Cat walk the pier, watching the other contestants. John Harvey remains in first place and Macon is amazed at how he maintains such success, as fishing relies partially on luck. Harriet arrives, and introduces Cat to her older brother, Walt. He, too, marvels at John Harvey’s luck.
Later it begins to rain, and Macon covers Cat with an umbrella and brings her some of the fried flounder she caught. After dinner, Harriet returns, and Cat catches a five-pound Mackerel. The three wait for the judges to come take it but see that there is some commotion at the judging tent. John Harvey has been disqualified for breaking one of the rules by creating a reef with cinder blocks to attract fish. Cat and Macon discuss John Harvey, and Cat realizes that she has complex feelings toward him.
When the evening ends, Cat, joined by Harriet and Macon, heads to the food truck to learn the results. Cat is declared the second-place winner and handed a trophy. Luis Bustamante, a friend of Walt’s, wins the first-place prize. Initially, Cat is surprised by how happy she is with second place, initially wanting so badly to win first place and beat John Harvey. Macon brags about her mackerel and they all head back home for hot chocolate.
Chapter 31 Summary
Lily greets them at the house and Cat shares the news. Chicken is asleep and Lily prompts Macon to reveal a surprise: He has added Cat and Chicken to the Stone House sign via pictures of a cat and a chicken.
As Lily makes hot chocolate, Cat heads upstairs to wake Chicken, but cannot find him. She searches the bedrooms, then discovers the “boat” laundry basket is also missing.
Macon heads to the beach to search for Chicken—others join him after an alert is sent out across the island. Harriet and Cat rush to the library, but Chicken is not there. A squeak from the playground catches their attention, but it is John Harvey on the merry-go-round. Cat is unhappy to see him, but John Harvey insists he has come to search for Chicken. Thunder sounds and the girls hurry back to Stone House.
Mom has arrived and is upset by Chicken’s disappearance. Harriet’s mother sends Cat upstairs to change into dry clothes. The sight of her suitcase jogs Cat’s memory to the elevator Macon showed them when they arrived. Chicken is there, in his laundry basket “boat.”
Chapter 32 Summary
Everyone is overjoyed to see Chicken. Macon credits Cat for her smart thinking. Everyone celebrates with hot chocolate.
After everyone has left, Mom announces that they will leave that night instead of the next morning as planned. She is adamant that Chicken cannot be kept safe on Gingerbread Island. An argument ensues as Macon and Cat try to convince Mom to stay. The argument extends to Mom’s disconnect from Macon. Cat points out the ways Mom’s assessment is skewed, and Mom apologizes.
A discussion follows wherein Cat confesses that Chicken has run away several times in San Francisco. Mom is upset. Cat announces she is going to bed and instructs Mom and Macon to work out their disagreement.
Chapter 33 Summary
The next morning, Cat and Mom talk outside on the porch swing. Mom explains her disagreement with Macon: Macon disapproved of Mom pursuing art and marrying Cat’s dad at a young age. Mom was hurt that Macon’s work caused him to be absent. Next, Mom acknowledges that she has done the same to Cat by immersing herself in her work and by placing so much responsibility for Chicken’s care onto Cat. Mom plans to make some changes so that all of Chicken’s care no longer falls on Cat’s shoulders. Cat then requests to no longer be called “Caterpillar.”
Later, Harriet arrives to say goodbye and gives Cat an envelope addressed to her that Harriet found on the front step. Inside is the missing “Amanda” license plate. Cat leaves on a final bike ride, planning to speak with John Harvey.
Chapter 34 Summary
Cat bikes to John Harvey’s home, but he is not there. As she leaves, she meets him and his dog, Dixie, on the sidewalk. John Harvey is certain that Cat has come to gloat about winning the contest, but Cat thanks him for helping to search for Chicken. John Harvey admits that cheating was wrong. He jokingly asks Cat if she will give him some of the prize money if she wins the contest next year, but Cat does not accept this deal.
As Cat, Chicken, and Mom prepare to leave, Lily gives Cat a sea glass necklace. Macon gives Cat an envelope, instructing her to not open it until they are en route to home. It contains a photo of Cat and Macon at the fishing contest. Chicken asks Mom if they can return to Gingerbread Island the next summer and Mom agrees that they should.
Chapters 29-34 Analysis
The day of the fishing contest arrives, serving as the climax of the novel’s plot. The contest is important in showcasing many of Cat’s strengths: She is patient, hard-working, and unwilling to give up easily. Though the weather is unpleasant, and Mom does not arrive in time to attend the contest, Cat sticks with it, determined to do her best and to achieve her goal of beating John Harvey. Cat has not only risked trying something new, never having fished before, but she bravely is not deterred by John Harvey’s taunting. When John Harvey is disqualified, Cat does not gloat, but instead shows concern, worried that John Harvey may be punished or be required to pay a fine. By the end of the contest, Cat has come to realize that while beating John Harvey may have been her initial goal, finding a hobby she enjoys and excels in, while growing closer to Macon, is a greater reward.
Indeed, Macon’s commitment to Cat is evident throughout the fishing contest. Despite the rain and long hours, he sticks by Cat, giving her advice, bringing her food, and keeping her warm. He cheers her on and supports her, and the pride he feels when Cat wins second place is palpable. This support and love from Macon is what Cat hoped to achieve with Mom via fishing. Unexpectedly, however, it has brought her and Macon closer. Macon is impressed by Cat’s dedication and determination, admiring her passion and tenacity. The growth of Cat and Macon’s relationship demonstrates a shift, emphasizing the story’s theme of Family Dynamics.
This section also displays the transformation of John Harvey’s character. When his cheating is uncovered, this suggests he is less skilled at fishing than he had led others to believe. Further, this demonstrates a lack of morality and sportsmanship on his part. His disqualification, however, prompts him to acknowledge his wrongdoing in a manner that shows John Harvey has learned and grown from his mistake. That he can admit to this error demonstrates a developing maturity and an admirable evolution in his person. Similarly, he continues to aid Chicken when he assists in the search when Chicken goes missing. These and other aspects of John Harvey lead Cat to realize that he is neither entirely “bad” nor entirely “good,” but a multifaceted person with both flaws and strengths.
The disappearance of Chicken causes panic in Cat, as it suggests she was wrong to trust Lily to keep him safe, and that only Cat herself can protect him. Cat locates Chicken by thinking like him, as she has done in the past. This outlines how Cat and Chicken share an important bond.
The ending of the novel brings about promises of important changes to come to Cat’s life. Mom and Macon begin to repair their damaged relationship, both acknowledging the mistakes they have made and accepting responsibility for their wrongs. Cat plays an important role in this reconciliation, not only because she deliberately sought to bring the two together, but because she is objectively able to view the disagreement. Mom accepts responsibility for her absence from Cat’s life and seeks ways to provide Cat with the freedom and autonomy from Chicken that Cat desires. Cat’s stating that the level of responsibility placed on her for Chicken’s care has hindered her speaks to the maturity of her character. Cat cares for Chicken deeply but understands that she must seek agency in her own interests.
By the end of the novel, Cat’s summer has been anything but the vacation with Rishi that she expected. The three weeks spent on Gingerbread Island have provided Cat with a meaningful opportunity to grow closer to family whom she has not known prior, and brought about the beginning of meaningful changes in her life, hinting at the improvements that will come about once returning home to San Francisco. The ending is an optimistic one, highlighting that the family unit has become stronger and will continue to grow and thrive.
