61 pages • 2 hours read
Susan NussbaumGood Kings Bad Kings
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2013A 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 24-28Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 24 Summary: “Ricky Hernandez”
One of the ILLC houseparents, Louie, severely mistreats Pierre, and Ricky finds out from Jimmie. Louie gave orders to Pierre, who refused, so Louie yelled and dragged him by the arm to the time out room. Ricky is upset and concerned for Pierre, so he goes up to visit him. Pierre is silent in the cold room. Ricky covers him with his jacket, and they sit in silence for “about an hour” (133). Later, Ricky tells Joanne everything while they are in bed together. Ricky didn’t want to leave Pierre unwatched, but only Jerry—who Ricky says is irresponsible and “leaves a trail of slime behind him when he walks” (137)—was on duty, so Ricky spoke with the nurse to keep an eye on Pierre. Joanne is listening while tenderly caressing Ricky, and they begin to grow more intimate.
Chapter 25 Summary: “Jimmie Kendrick”
Jimmie is tired and overworked. The ILLC is already short-staffed, but when another houseparent calls out sick, Jimmie sometimes has to perform the duties of more than one employee. When she gets home, she is physically in pain from the workday. She is disgruntled and feels exploited and wishes they’d hire more houseparents.
Jimmie thinks Yessenia is lying to her after an incident regarding another patient. A houseparent caught Yessie going into another girl’s room, and Jimmie thinks it’s because Yessie is stealing. Yessie makes up a story about wanting to give the girl something, but Jimmie is suspicious. In the evening, Jimmie stops by with the girl, and Yessie continues to lie about the situation. Jimmie tells her that she knows what she is up to. Jimmie wants to hold Yessenia accountable, since Yessenia doesn’t have a mother figure or anyone to trust.
Chapter 26 Summary: “Yessenia Lopez”
While in the hallways, Yessie and Cheri stop into Joanne’s office. They gossip, and Cheri reveals that she is only at ILLC because of “that Michelle girl” (142). Michelle told Cheri’s parents that Cheri was schizophrenic, and they placed Cheri at ILLC, so Cheri strongly dislikes Michelle. Joanne mentions that she has met Michelle, and Cheri wants Joanne to tell her parents that Michelle is horrible person. Joanne admits that it’s Michelle’s job to get patients, but Cheri persists, and Joanne agrees to talk with someone to see if she can do anything—though it seems Joanne isn’t very confident in being able to change Cheri’s situation. Joanne makes the girls promise not to tell anyone, and they promise.
Yessenia notices a photo clipping of a “succulent male” who she thinks is “hot” on Joanne’s wall and asks about it (144). It’s a magazine clipping from a pro-disabled protest. Joanne tries to inform them about it, but they are more interested in the guy than in the social cause. Yessie asks if she can have the clipping, and Joanne gives it to her.
Chapter 27 Summary: “Mia Oviedo”
Mia is in the nurse’s office, and her “coochie” is hurting (146). She is in pain and terrified of seeing Jerry. She doesn’t want to leave the nurse’s office that night and begs to sleep there. The nurse seems suspicious that something is wrong and questions her. Mia finally admits that she is in pain, and the nurse examines her pelvic area—although Mia is resistant and frightened. The nurse discovers that Mia has an STD, and she questions her more about who she is having sex with. Mia doesn’t want to say anything, but the nurse is relentless, so Mia finally whispers Jerry’s name. The nurse asks if she is sure, and Mia nods.
Chapter 28 Summary: “Joanne Madsen”
Joanne hires a new driver so that Ricky and she can have more independence now that they are more seriously involved. The driver takes her to see “Elaine Brown at the Center for Disability Justice, or CDJ” (151). Inside, Joanne notices a mural of disabled people looking happy—two older white “crips” and a black man. Joanne comments on how those types of representations never include anyone like Mia or Cheri. After Mia’s confession to the nurse, Jerry has been arrested at ILLC. Everyone seems to know about the situation, even though it was supposed to be confidential. Yessie takes Mia to talk to Joanne, and Mia simply cries. Mia has begun to see a therapist, but Joanne can see that it’s not every beneficial or practical for Mia, so Joanne wants to help Mia recover. They have lunch together.
Joanne takes a sick day so that she can meet with Elaine Brown from the CDJ, as well as Teddy and his father. They discuss options for Teddy, since he is aging out of ILLC, and Elaine presents him with options to live independently. Teddy is happy and relieved, since Mrs. Phoebe told Teddy he would have to transfer to another nursing home owned by Whitney-Palm. Elaine assures Teddy that living independently is possible, and his human right, but will take work. After the successful meeting, Joanne talks to Teddy about his status with Mia, but Teddy tears up, and Joanne feels bad for mentioning it.
Chapters 24-28 Analysis
ILLC is a brutal environment, demonstrated in the description Louie’s treatment of Pierre: “[H]e went looking for Pierre and when he found him he dragged him up to his room and sorta—he was Louie, okay? He was a pig.” (133). However, Ricky’s compassion for Pierre continues to grow and demonstrate that his character is benevolent and caring. He’s not simply going through the motions but is emotionally and psychologically engaged in helping the young patients under his supervision. Unlike Louie and Jerry—two incompetent and abusive ILLC houseparents who Ricky disapproves of—Ricky is patient and genuine and wants to create a supportive and loving environment. His intimate relationship with Joanne perhaps further informs his understanding of disabled people on a deeper level, and she supports him. His reaction to how Pierre is being treated goes beyond superficiality, and he is one of the few characters to provide actual support to others.
While Ricky’s perspective illuminates the exploitation and abuse of the ILLC patients, Jimmie’s narration reveals the exploitation and abuse of the ILLC employees. Now that budget cuts have taken effect, Jimmie comments on how she is being worked “to death” (138). The nursing home is understaffed, and the strain it puts on individuals like Jimmie make it difficult for her to do her job well. Her exhaustion and potential burnout are symptoms of a system that places too much burden on the hard work and optimism of caring individuals, rather than improving a system to benefit everyone. The following passage best demonstrates the grueling work demands for Jimmie and others:
But seven, eight kids apiece is just—uh-uh. It’s ridiculous. Day like today, I had eight kids. Seven need help with pretty much everything. They have to use the toilet and get showered and ready for bed. But all of them need your time. (138).
Despite these conditions, Jimmie is committed to doing her job professionally and effectively. Yessenia and Jimmie’s relationship continues to grow, as Jimmie wants to help Yessenia make better choices, but Yessenia has a long path towards growth. Yessenia’s interaction with Joanne reveals that she is still immature because when Joanne tries to tell her about social justice, Yessenia only seems to care about a “hot guy.” The conversation, however, also reveals that Joanne indeed thinks poorly of Michelle—the patient recruiter. While talking to Cheri, Joanne admits that it’s against Michelle’s job to actually help and assist the disabled population: “Her job is the opposite of that. She gets people into nursing homes and other institutions for a living. She got paid for convincing Cheri’s parents to send her here” (142).
The suffering and internalized pain of Mia continues to grow. It seems that it’s not only her, but perhaps other young girls at ILLC who have negative experiences with Jerry, since others avoid him too. Mia implies as much when she says, “I saw him. He come after dinnertime. I keeping my head down but I see Fantasia go away from me real fast alla sudden” (146). This quote exposes how rampant Jerry’s abuses are and how perhaps many others are also being terrorized. Mia goes on to plead with God that she might sleep in the nurse’s office, further indicating her fear of being abused. Her reluctant silence is a result of her depression and fear of Jerry. She is unable to tell the nurse the truth until she is essentially forced to, and when she does, she feels physically sick. This symbolizes how voiceless and defenseless she is against a white male employee like Jerry, and how paralyzing it is for young women in her position.
The exploitation and neglect of human rights for the disabled patients finally begins to change for the better, as Jerry is arrested, and Teddy receives help from the Center for Disability Justice. This chapter marks a major shift in the tone and outcomes of the characters up to this point. Joanne is a beacon of hope and advocacy for the young patients, and she continues to support, teach, and foster meaningful pathways for them to move forward. Her character demonstrates how it is possible for disabled persons to pursue an independent lifestyle, despite the obstacles and extra human effort required. She is the sole narrator who occupies both the disabled and the abled world, and she does so with grace and confidence.
