Buckeye Chapter Seventeen: Skip, Tom, and the Fire at Everett's

⚠️ 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

During spring recess, Skip witnesses the redheaded boy he met in winter (Tom) being bullied by younger kids. Skip shoves the main aggressor and advises Tom to kick attackers “in the nuts.” They become friends; Skip nicknames him Buckeye after a day of shooting buckeyes from a mill smokestack. Their summer includes exploring with Vincent Deeds, visiting Everett’s junk-filled property (including a fallout shelter), and stopping by Roman and Ida’s (where the train set remains off-limits). Tom’s father Felix reveals to Margaret that he consulted a psychic—actually Becky—about people who died on his wartime ship. In August, Everett’s dog Buster dies. Everett gets drunk, writes to President Eisenhower denouncing war, and accidentally sets his house on fire; he survives in the shelter. Cal and Roman find him; Everett moves in with Cal, Becky, and Skip. After early conflicts, the family begins to adjust, and Everett starts a Zane Grey reading club with other veterans.

Key Events

Skip shoves a bully attacking Tom at recess and gives him fighting advice.
Skip and Tom become summer companions; Skip nicknames Tom “Buckeye” after shooting buckeyes.
They explore with Vincent Deeds, visit Everett’s property, and see the fallout shelter.
Felix tells Margaret he consulted a psychic (Becky) to deal with his war trauma.
Everett’s dog Buster dies naturally; Everett drinks, writes a letter to Eisenhower, and accidentally burns down his house.
Everett survives in the shelter; Cal and Roman bring him to live with Cal’s family.
Tensions between Everett and Cal erupt but lead to honest conversations about the past.
Everett adapts to family life, quits drinking and smoking, and joins a Zane Grey reading group.

Character Development

Skip: Shows empathy and courage by defending Tom. He learns to navigate social factions and forges a genuine friendship across class and race lines.
Tom / Buckeye: Transitions from a bullied outsider to a confident friend. His acceptance of Skip’s nickname signals trust and belonging.
Everett: Loses his home and dog, forcing him into sobriety and family life. He begins to reflect on his past failures as a father and makes small amends.
Cal: Struggles with long-held resentment toward Everett but ultimately allows him to stay. He works to be a better father than his own was.
Margaret: Learns of Felix’s psychic consultations and feels the tangled connections between families; she wishes for a simpler life.
Felix: Makes progress on war trauma by speaking with Becky; becomes more present at home.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Friendship across boundaries: Skip and Tom’s bond bridges differences in age, class, and potentially race (Tom’s family is white, but Skip’s other friend Vincent is Black).
Loss and renewal: Everett’s house fire strips him of possessions but frees him from addiction and isolation. The dog’s death precedes new beginnings.
War’s lingering impact: Felix’s secret consultations and Everett’s bitter letter to Eisenhower show how combat continues to affect survivors.
Generational conflict and reconciliation: Cal and Everett’s shouting match leads to mutual understanding, breaking a cycle of silence.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point for several relationships: Skip’s first deep friendship; Everett’s integration into the nuclear family; and Cal’s ability to forgive. It also introduces important motifs (the psychic connection, the Zane Grey book club) that will likely recur. The fire symbolically clears away the past and allows characters to rebuild.

Study Questions and Answers

What motivates Skip to intervene when Tom is being bullied, and what does this reveal about his character? Skip acts without hesitation because he recognizes Tom from the igloo building and perceives the injustice. This shows Skip’s innate sense of fairness and his willingness to use physical force to protect others, even against older kids.
How does the destruction of Everett’s house function as a metaphor for his personal transformation? The fire destroys Everett’s hoarded possessions and his drinking patterns, forcing him into a sober, family-oriented life. Like the house, his old identity is razed, allowing him to rebuild relationships with Cal and Skip.
What does the formation of the Zane Grey Boys suggest about Everett’s new priorities? The book club indicates Everett’s shift from isolation to community. He seeks connection with fellow veterans and invests in shared intellectual activity, representing a departure from his reclusive, alcoholic past.

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