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Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2009

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Part 3, Chapters 26-27Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 3

Part 3, Chapter 26 Summary

Chapter 26 begins with an article about Nick’s suicide, focusing on Nick’s mother’s response. She asks for remorse for his death, which includes asking for validation for his life. As the news article commemorates the most significant person in Valerie’s past, the present timeline focuses on her budding future.

As the girls and the rest of student council decorate the room for Mrs. Stone’s birthday, Valerie listens as Jessica describes how her father bought her Justin Timberlake tickets; she plans on going with her older brother. To Valerie, Jessica’s family sounds like a perfect family. However, the conversation turns to another imperfect family: Meghan’s troubled brother, Troy, who struggled in school and continues to struggle after graduation.

The conversation ends with Jessica and Meghan inviting Valerie to a party at Alex’s farm, a party for popular kids at which, a year ago, Valerie would never have been welcome. Jessica also invites her to a sleepover at her house. When Mrs. Stone arrives, she seems particularly happy to see the three former enemies, Jessica, Meghan, and Valerie, getting along.

Part 3, Chapter 27 Summary

Mr. Angerson says Jessica and Valerie can no longer eat in the hallway and must eat in the Commons, with the rest of the students, so Valerie joins a table with Jessica’s friends. However, even the people who are friendly to Valerie at student council meetings, like Meghan, treat Valerie coolly in this more public setting. After this, Valerie thinks Alex’s party might be a bad idea. Hearing a few of them talking snidely about her at the end of the table, Valerie makes up an excuse about having to take a test, leaving Jessica’s lunch table.

Part 3, Chapters 26-27 Analysis

During a party for Mrs. Tate, Jessica recounts how her father uses an elaborate, corny ruse to surprise her with Justin Timberlake tickets; although Jessica has to attend the concert with her brother, the scene serves as a stark contrast to scenes with Valerie’s cold, thoughtless father. Mr. Leftman would never think to get tickets like this for Valerie. Then, even though Valerie feels close to Jessica and Meghan after the student council party, when Jessica invites Valerie to her lunch table, the kids at the table act rudely towards Valerie; even Meghan will not publicly acknowledge Valerie. In public, Valerie will never be accepted into their social circle, indicating some things never change.