Chapter 17 'Snitches': Summary, Themes, and 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
The chapter opens with the narrator reflecting on her ability to keep secrets. She describes herself as someone who knows how to mind her own business and does not share everything she knows. This self-awareness comes into focus when she notices that conversations around her stop whenever Lay Li walks by. The silence that follows Lay Li is compared to midnight, static on a television, and the quiet her mother made when the narrator asked about her father or about prison. These comparisons link the current silence between the two friends to deeper, unspoken family pain.
The narrator reveals that she and Lay Li have not spoken for a full week since a phone call involving Shawn. During that call, Lay Li accused the narrator of trying to break up her and Shawn’s relationship. The narrator clarifies that Shawn and Lay Li have been on and off all summer, and that Shawn attends high school on the west side of town and is known for his fresh high-top sneakers. The accusation has “grown teeth” and sunk into their friendship, refusing to let go. The narrator tried to shake the conflict loose, but the damage persists.
Despite the accusation, the narrator makes clear that she does not want to break them up. What she wants is her friend back—not in a romantic or possessive way, but simply to be able to talk to the one person who cared about her appearance. Lay Li used to tell her to brush her hair and to give her basketball shorts a break. These small, caring comments are what the narrator misses most.
The narrator also recalls that Lay Li used to set her up with boys, but those boys could not stand her. They would get angry when she beat them on the basketball court and accused her of talking too much trash. The narrator insists she only talks trash on the court, and that is where it belongs. She is not a liar about that.
The narrator reflects on her role in the friendship. With Lay Li, she does not have to think too hard. She is comfortable being “the friend of the star,” and she does not mind that role at all. It gives her time to think about her dreams of playing in the WNBA.
The chapter ends with the narrator calling Lay Li, but Lay Li does not pick up. A pit grows in the narrator’s stomach like a redwood tree, signaling her growing anxiety and the deepening rift between them.
Key Events
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The narrator observes that conversations stop whenever Lay Li walks by, highlighting the social tension between them.
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She reveals that she and Lay Li have not spoken for a week since a phone call involving Shawn.
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Lay Li accused the narrator of trying to break up her and Shawn’s relationship, which has been on and off all summer.
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The narrator recalls Lay Li’s caring comments about her appearance—brushing her hair and not always wearing basketball shorts.
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She remembers that Lay Li used to set her up with boys who could not stand her, often because she beat them on the court and talked trash.
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The narrator affirms that she only talks trash on the court, and that she is comfortable being the supporting friend, which gives her time to dream about the WNBA.
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She calls Lay Li, but Lay Li does not answer, leaving the narrator with a growing pit in her stomach.
Character Development
The Narrator (Sky) – This chapter deepens our understanding of Sky’s internal world. She presents herself as someone who keeps secrets and minds her own business, but the chapter reveals that this silence is not just about discretion—it is also a form of self-protection. Her comparisons to her mother’s silence about her father and prison suggest that she has learned to be quiet around painful topics. Her longing for Lay Li’s friendship shows her vulnerability. She misses being cared for, even if that care came in the form of nagging about her hair or shorts. Her comfort in the supporting role (“friend of the star”) reveals her humility and her focus on her own dreams, but it also hints at a possible lack of self-assertion. The growing pit in her stomach at the end shows her anxiety and her fear that the friendship may be truly over.
Lay Li – Though not directly present in the chapter, Lay Li’s influence is felt through memory and absence. She is portrayed as the more socially prominent friend (“the star”), someone who cares about appearances and tries to set Sky up with boys. Her accusation against Sky suggests she is quick to assume the worst, possibly due to her own insecurities about her on-and-off relationship with Shawn. Her refusal to answer the phone indicates she is either hurt, angry, or both.
Shawn – Mentioned only in passing, Shawn is the catalyst for the conflict. He attends high school on the west side and is known for his fresh high-tops. His relationship with Lay Li has been unstable all summer, which makes Lay Li’s accusation against Sky feel more like misplaced jealousy than a rational conclusion.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Silence as Self-Protection – The chapter’s title, “Snitches,” plays on the idea that telling secrets leads to consequences (“get stitches”). The narrator explicitly says she knows how to mind her own business. But the silence she describes is not just about keeping others’ secrets; it is also about suppressing her own feelings. The silence around her father and prison is a family pattern, and now she is experiencing a similar silence in her friendship.
Silence Around Painful Family Truths – The narrator’s comparisons to her mother’s silence when asked about her father or prison link the current friendship conflict to deeper, unresolved family issues. This suggests that Sky has learned to accept silence as a normal response to pain, which may make it harder for her to address the conflict with Lay Li directly.
Friendship Conflict and Estrangement – The chapter is a study in how a single accusation can fracture a close friendship. The narrator’s attempts to “shake it loose” fail, and the silence grows. The estrangement is painful because the narrator still cares deeply for Lay Li, even after the accusation.
Basketball as Identity and Aspiration – Basketball is central to Sky’s sense of self. She talks trash only on the court, and she dreams of the WNBA. Her comfort in the supporting role on the court mirrors her comfort in the supporting role in her friendship, but it also gives her space to focus on her own goals. The boys who get angry when she beats them highlight the gendered dynamics of the sport, but Sky does not let that deter her.
Longing for Friendship Connection – The narrator’s repeated desire to “talk to the only one who cares about how I look” underscores her loneliness. She misses the small, everyday interactions that defined their bond. The chapter ends with her reaching out, but the unanswered call leaves her in a state of anxious longing.
Anxiety and Uncertainty – The growing pit in her stomach is a physical manifestation of her anxiety. The redwood tree simile suggests that the worry is large and deep-rooted, not easily dismissed.
Supporting Role in Friendship – Sky explicitly states she is “the friend of the star” and does not mind. This reveals her self-awareness and her acceptance of a secondary role, but it also raises questions about whether she is undervaluing herself. Her dreams of the WNBA suggest she has ambition, but she seems content to let Lay Li take the spotlight in their social dynamic.
Absent Father and Family Absence – The mention of her father and prison, though brief, points to a larger absence in her life. This absence may contribute to her reliance on Lay Li as a source of care and validation.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 17 is a turning point in the novel’s exploration of friendship and identity. It moves the conflict between Sky and Lay Li from a background tension to a central emotional crisis. The chapter deepens our understanding of Sky’s character by revealing her internal thoughts about silence, family, and her own dreams. It also introduces the theme of silence as a coping mechanism, which will likely resonate throughout the rest of the book. The chapter’s ending—with the unanswered phone call—creates a sense of unresolved tension that propels the reader forward. It also challenges the reader to consider the cost of silence in relationships and the difficulty of speaking up when it matters most.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does the narrator compare the silence around Lay Li to the silence her mother made when asked about her father or prison?
The comparison suggests that the narrator has experienced silence as a response to painful topics before. Her mother’s silence about her father and prison taught her that some questions are not answered, and that silence can be a way to avoid confronting difficult truths. By linking the current silence with Lay Li to these past silences, the narrator reveals that she is used to being left in the dark, and that the current estrangement feels familiar and deeply unsettling.
2. What does the narrator’s comfort in being “the friend of the star” reveal about her character?
It shows that she is humble and does not seek the spotlight. She is content to support Lay Li and does not feel threatened by her friend’s prominence. However, it also suggests that she may be undervaluing her own worth. Her dreams of the WNBA indicate that she has personal ambitions, but she seems to separate those ambitions from her social role. This comfort in a supporting role may also be a way to avoid the pressure of being the center of attention, which aligns with her tendency to keep to herself.
3. How does the chapter use the motif of silence to develop the theme of friendship conflict?
Silence is both a cause and a symptom of the conflict. The narrator’s silence about her own feelings—and her habit of keeping things to herself—may have contributed to the misunderstanding with Lay Li. At the same time, the silence that now surrounds Lay Li when she walks by is a social marker of the rift. The chapter shows that silence can be a form of self-protection, but it also prevents resolution. The narrator’s unanswered phone call is the ultimate symbol of this silence, leaving the conflict unresolved and the narrator anxious.