Cackle Chapter 14: “Resolutions” – Summary & Analysis
⚠️ 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
After a discussion with Madison about New Year’s resolutions, Annie decides to follow through on her own promise to care for herself. She buys ingredients and roasts a whole chicken – a meal just for her. While clearing the table, she stares at the leftover bones and feels a strange contentment. Then, without warning, a tower of bones floats above her plate and scatters across the room. Annie laughs in disbelief, realising she has magic. She saves the bones to make broth. Later, she takes the broth to Sophie’s house, where Sophie teaches her soap-making and other crafts. Annie continues to cook for herself and learns to enjoy her own company. One morning she wakes to find flowers at the foot of her bed, which she later realises she grew in her dreams. She brings them to school and tells Madison they are from herself. Sophie cuts Annie’s hair short, a physical symbol of letting go of the past. Annie admits she used to do things only to impress others, especially her ex-boyfriend Sam. Sophie encourages Annie to play guitar for her and to pursue things for her own joy. Annie returns home feeling lighter and genuinely happy.
Key Events
- Annie roasts a chicken and eats alone, then accidentally levitates the bones.
- She laughs and accepts that she has magical abilities.
- She makes bone broth from the chicken bones and takes it to Sophie.
- Sophie teaches Annie to make soap, salve, ginger oil, and other crafts.
- Annie cooks for herself, learning lamb stew and salmon, dancing to her own music.
- Flowers appear at the foot of her bed; she later confirms she grew them in her dreams.
- She gives a flower to her rat Ralph, who cherishes it.
- Sophie cuts Annie’s hair short, using antique “murdering scissors” as a joke.
- Annie reflects on past behaviours: learning guitar for boys, reading difficult books, running marathons – all to please Sam.
- Sophie asks Annie to play guitar for her, and Annie agrees.
- Annie returns home feeling happy and shows off her new hair to Ralph.
Character Development
Annie moves from self-neglect to deliberate self-care. She cooks for herself, celebrates her magic (even the accidental bits), and begins to see her own worth. The haircut marks a visible break from her past, especially her obsessive focus on Sam. She confesses her pattern of doing things only to impress others, and Sophie helps her see the need for new motivation. For the first time, Annie expresses genuine happiness.
Sophie continues as a mentor, unfazed by Annie’s magical growth. She offers practical lessons (soap, salve, haircut) and emotional support, encouraging Annie to pursue her own desires. Her joke about murdering scissors reinforces her dark but playful nature.
Madison appears briefly, offering a teenage perspective on resolutions. Annie later gives her a compliment, which brightens Madison’s mood – a small but meaningful moment.
Ralph remains a loving companion, celebrating Annie’s achievements and wearing a new hat from Sophie.
Lynn is encountered on the driveway; she seems uncomfortable and cuts their conversation short after Annie’s odd shout about bone broth.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Resolutions and self-care: Annie follows through on her resolution to cook a “beautiful meal by myself, for myself.” This act becomes a gateway to self-love and magical awakening.
Chicken bones: They represent both death and nourishment. Annie reconsiders what is “ugly” and decides to cherish the bones that fed her. When they float, they become proof of her magic and her potential.
Hair and letting go: Sophie’s haircut symbolises cutting off the “dead ends” of Annie’s past – her old motivations tied to Sam. The physical change anchors her new identity.
Flowers from the mind: Annie’s dream-powered flowers signify her growing control over her magic and her ability to create beauty without external validation. Giving a flower to Ralph shows her generosity and the bond they share.
Cooking and crafting: These domestic acts become rituals of independence and joy. Annie learns that effort spent on herself is worthwhile.
Why This Chapter Matters
“Resolutions” is a turning point where Annie accepts her magic not as a curse but as a part of herself. The levitation of chicken bones is her first voluntary (if accidental) act of power that she witnesses. Her laughter replaces her earlier fear. This chapter also deepens her relationship with Sophie, who becomes a guide not just in magic but in self-reclamation. Annie’s confession about her past motivations marks a critical self-awareness, and the haircut visually signals her transformation. It sets up her journey toward autonomy and away from seeking approval from others.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Annie decide to roast a whole chicken for herself, and what does this reveal about her character growth?
Annie cooks the chicken as a follow-through on her New Year’s resolution to care for herself. This marks a shift from her previous pattern of neglecting her own needs; she invests time, money, and effort into a meal just for her. It reveals she is learning to value herself independently of others.
2. How does Annie’s reaction to the floating chicken bones differ from her earlier reactions to strange events (like the spider in Chapter 1)?
She laughs and declares, “I guess I’m magic!” – an expression of delight rather than fear. Earlier, she was anxious and tried to rationalise unusual occurrences. Now she embraces the inexplicable as part of her identity, showing growing confidence.
3. What does the haircut scene symbolise about Annie’s relationship with her past, especially regarding Sam?
The haircut represents cutting away the “dead ends” of the past – the years of doing things only to impress Sam. Sophie’s scissors remove the weight of memories tied to seeking male approval. Annie feels lighter and more herself, ready to pursue her own interests, like playing guitar for Sophie.