Chapter 34 Summary & Analysis: 33. Devon

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens with Devon, now seventeen, recalling the day at age ten when he visited his father, Malcolm Richards, in prison for the first and last time. His father, serving time for an unspecified crime, told Devon he never wanted to see him again and walked away. Devon had coped by imagining the ocean.

In the present, Devon visits his friend Dre, who has been arrested after a police raid. Dre's face is badly beaten; he says other inmates assault him because they "heard of you and me," implying homophobic violence. Dre tells Devon he loves him. The phone line disconnects, and Dre is led away.

After the visit, Devon asks the receptionist about his father. She reveals that Malcolm Richards was on death row and died seven years ago on September 9—the very day Devon last saw him. Devon is shattered, realising he never got to say goodbye or understand his father's love. He walks out in a daze, retrieves his phone and belongings, and texts Terrell to arrange a meeting with Chiamaka to plan next steps against Niveus Academy.

Key Events

Devon recounts his childhood prison visit with his father, who rejected him.
Devon visits Dre in prison; Dre is bruised and has been attacked for his sexuality.
Dre confesses his love for Devon.
Devon learns that his father was on death row and died the same day he visited him.
Devon resolves to continue fighting Niveus despite his personal grief.

Character Development

Devon: His backstory deepens—his father's abandonment and death shape his fear of connection and his tendency to compartmentalise pain. This chapter shows him vulnerable yet determined.
Dre: Revealed as isolated and vulnerable, yet still loving. His declaration of love adds a new layer to his relationship with Devon.
Chiamaka: Not present, but referenced as a partner in the fight against Niveus, showing Devon's commitment to their alliance.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Prison as separation: Prison walls, glass screens, and phone lines symbolise emotional and physical barriers between loved ones.
The ocean as escape: Devon repeatedly visualises the sea to calm himself, a motif for his desire to be carried away from pain.
Death row and erased goodbyes: The death row uniform (white) and the lack of a final farewell underscore how the justice system denies closure to families.
Homophobic violence: Dre's beating in prison highlights the ongoing threat queer people face even within the penal system.

Why This Chapter Matters

This is a turning point for Devon. He learns two devastating truths: his father died without a proper goodbye, and Dre—who loves him—is trapped in a violent system. These losses fuel his determination to dismantle Niveus Academy. The chapter also provides crucial backstory that explains Devon's guarded personality and his drive to protect those he cares about.

Study Questions & Answers

Why does Devon's first prison visit with his father end with his father telling him never to come back?
Malcolm Richards likely wanted to protect Devon from the trauma of seeing him on death row. He chose a clean break over prolonged suffering, but his lack of explanation left Devon with years of resentment.
How does the revelation of Malcolm's death on the same day as his visit affect Devon?
Devon is devastated because he realises he missed the chance to say goodbye or ask his father if he loved him. The news shatters his fantasy of a future reunion and forces him to confront the permanence of loss.
What motivates Devon to continue working with Chiamaka against Niveus after such personal blows?
Despite his grief, Devon recognises that Niveus Academy is the root of the systemic injustice that hurt both his father and Dre. Fighting Niveus gives him purpose and a way to channel his anger into change.