43 pages • 1 hour read
Mike CuratoFlamer
Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | YA | Published in 2020A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapter 7Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 7 Summary: “Friday”
Content Warning: This section of the guide contains an instance of suicidal ideation.
Aiden wakes up, puts on his black hoodie, and writes a note that he leaves on his pillow. He heads through the woods toward the chapel. Once there, he exposes his wrist and pulls out a pocketknife. With the knife held to his wrist, he hesitates. He blacks out, and in the sea of darkness, flames suddenly appear around him. He is approached by a flaming archer who reveals themselves as his soul. The archer sees the knife. Aiden expresses that he is just tired, weak, and can’t do it anymore. The archer shoots him in the arm and tells him while it burns now, it will heal. Aiden feels alone and abandoned, but his soul reminds him that he has friends and family, and that he doesn’t actually know how they would respond to learning that he is gay. Finally, his soul tells him that even if they do all reject him, he himself is enough.
Aiden merges with his soul and awakens on the chapel floor. He leaves the knife behind as he heads outside. He sheds a tear, but smiles. Elias finds him on the path back to camp and tells him that he was worried, and that everyone has been looking for him. Elias apologizes for freaking out and returns the dropped friendship bracelet. He asks Aiden if they can still be friends and they head off to archery class together.
Aiden enjoys his classes with Elias, Bobby, and Ryan, and later receives a letter from Violet—which had been delayed because of a mix-up with the mailbag. Her letter tells him there’s nothing wrong with him, and that she will always be there for him. That night, the patrol sings more campfire songs. Aiden is encouraged to do his valley girl impression, and the others give him a round of applause. Later, Aiden gets out of bed to put the note he’d written in the campfire. He reflects that while his life is a mess, he isn’t ready to give up yet.
Chapter 7 Analysis
There is very little dialogue or narration in this final chapter. Aiden wakes, dons his black hoodie, and silently makes his way toward the chapel. He sees nobody on the way and the wildlife flees as he approaches. Curato uses a combination of close-ups that convey claustrophobia and emphasize the tired, defeated look on Aiden’s face; the long-shots make him appear small and insignificant. This illustrates how the wilderness that once felt safe and peaceful for Aiden now feels desolate and isolating.
The appearance of Aiden’s soul reframes the symbolic meaning of fire throughout the text. Now, fire doesn’t just reflect Aiden’s desire or growing awareness that he is gay; it also represents the life within him and the strength he has to keep fighting in the face of adversity. The archer gives form to all the things Aiden believes he is not: The archer is strong, self-assured, and knows that they are loved. Yet, this archer is also Aiden and has been within him the entire time.
The merging of Aiden and his soul represents Aiden’s Self-Acceptance. Curato uses the image of a phoenix to evoke the sense of renewal and new beginnings. As Aiden wakes, there is a tongue of fire above his head. Despite being on the chapel floor, Aiden’s rebirth does not stem from his religious beliefs and feeling the holy spirit (as he had hoped during his confirmation), but from his newfound sense of purpose, meaning, and self-contentment. His facial expression is completely changed, and his tears reflect relief and joy.
While the subsequent pages depict Aiden getting back with his friends and enjoying camp life, Curato makes it clear that the struggle is not over. The world has not suddenly become accepting of Aiden, his family is still a mess, and there is a lot left to figure out. But Aiden knows all of this. While he has not emerged unscathed, his experience has given him knowledge and Self-Acceptance, making him more equipped to do battle in the future.
