67 pages • 2 hours read
Jennifer BrownA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Part 1, Chapters 1-2
Part 1, Chapters 3-4
Part 1, Chapter 5
Part 2, Chapters 6-7
Part 2, Chapters 8-9
Part 2, Chapters 10-11
Part 2, Chapters 12-13
Part 2, Chapters 14-15
Part 3, Chapters 16-17
Part 3, Chapters 18-19
Part 3, Chapters 20-21
Part 3, Chapters 22-23
Part 3, Chapters 24-25
Part 3, Chapters 26-27
Part 3, Chapters 28-29
Part 3, Chapters 30-31
Part 3, Chapters 32-33
Part 3, Chapters 34-35
Part 3, Chapters 36-37
Part 3, Chapters 38-39
Part 3, Chapters 40-41
Part 3, Chapters 42-43
Part 4, Chapter 44
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
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.
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.