49 pages 1 hour read

Kevin Henkes

Olive's Ocean

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2003

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Chapters 14-26

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 14 Summary: “Parcheesi”

Dennis goes to the store to get more banana baby food. He doesn’t return, and Martha, unlike the rest of her family, worries. While Martha and Godbee play Parcheesi—a board game where the player wins by moving their four pawns to the center—Martha admits that she hates her family. Godbee sympathizes with Martha, and Godbee admits that she hates her hands. Martha claims Godbee has nice hands, but Godbee doesn’t believe her granddaughter. However, when Godbee was younger, a boy drew her hands because he thought they were beautiful.

Dennis returns. He had to drive all around Cape Cod, but now he has enough banana baby food to feed everyone. While he was out, he had a “revelation.”

Chapter 15 Summary: “Her Father’s Decision”

Dennis plans to stop working on a novel and return to his job as a lawyer. Godbee wonders how Alice will receive the news, and Dennis thinks his wife will be accepting. Dennis will earn more money, but Lucy will need additional childcare. As for Martha, now she can be the sole writer in her family.