Chapter 27 Summary, Themes, and Key Takeaways
⚠️ 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 in the immediate aftermath of the family's discovery that Parker fabricated the story about Sadie's mother. Rather than face anyone, Parker slips away into the night before she can be confronted. Lucinda, feeling faint, asks Sadie's father to take her home, leaving Sadie outside the gallery supporting her stepmother while waiting for the car.
Before the car arrives, Mr. and Mrs. Kim appear with an enormous fuchsia orchid. They express pride in Sadie's work and insist on going inside to support her, even though she tells them she has no hope of winning. They enter the show anyway.
When her father returns with the car, he lingers after helping Lucinda into the passenger seat. Sadie asks directly whether he ever blamed her for her mother's death. He admits he did say those words once, to Lucinda, late at night, and that he was horrified to hear them spoken aloud. He explains that he married Lucinda quickly because he wanted to find Sadie another mother, and that he was "crazed with grief" after the loss. He confesses that he blamed everyone—including himself, most of all—and that he could not look at Sadie without being overwhelmed by memories of her mother. He apologizes for disappearing after the death, for drinking every night, for locking his door, and for leaving Sadie alone in the hallway crying. He says he does not expect forgiveness, but he pulls her into a hug, cries, and tucks a marigold from her bouquet behind her ear before driving away with Lucinda.
After they leave, Sadie notices Parker's shadow on the sidewalk. Parker is hiding nearby, not running. Sadie speaks to the shadow, telling Parker that she always wanted a sister, that she believes Parker can change, and that if Parker ever decides to stop acting the way she does, Sadie will genuinely try to forgive her. The chapter ends with a spoiler: the next day, Sadie's portrait places last in the contest, receiving zero votes from the judges—but she comes away with a new understanding of what winning means.
Key Events
- Parker flees the scene before anyone can confront her, avoiding accountability.
- Lucinda feels faint, and Sadie supports her outside the gallery.
- Mr. and Mrs. Kim arrive with an orchid, express pride, and enter the show.
- Sadie's father admits he once blamed her for her mother's death, explains his grief, and apologizes for his years of withdrawal and drinking.
- He hugs Sadie, tucks a marigold behind her ear, and leaves with Lucinda.
- Sadie spots Parker hiding and speaks to her shadow, offering a conditional path to forgiveness.
- The next day, Sadie's portrait finishes last in the contest.
Character Development
Sadie shows remarkable emotional maturity in this chapter. Instead of demanding a dramatic apology or seeking revenge, she chooses to speak honestly to Parker's shadow, acknowledging her own desire for a sister and offering forgiveness if Parker changes. She also demonstrates courage by asking her father the painful question about blame, and she shows compassion by recognizing that Parker may already be punishing herself. Her decision to speak "for my sake, if not for hers" reveals a shift from seeking external validation to prioritizing her own healing.
Sadie's father undergoes significant development. He moves from avoidance and self-punishment to a vulnerable, direct apology. He admits his failures without excuse, acknowledges the specific ways he hurt Sadie (locking his door, drinking, averting his eyes), and expresses regret for not being there when she needed him. His admission that he still averts his eyes "to this day" shows that his growth is ongoing, not complete. The marigold gesture—breaking a flower from her bouquet and tucking it behind her ear—symbolizes his attempt to reconnect with both Sadie and the memory of her mother.
Parker remains largely offstage, but her behavior is revealing. She hides rather than faces the consequences, which suggests shame or guilt—emotions Sadie had not previously associated with her. Sadie's reflection on Parker's childhood (her father's dramatic departure, the ER visit) adds nuance, hinting that Parker's cruelty may stem from her own wounds.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Grief and blame are central. Sadie's father's confession that he blamed everyone, including himself, illustrates how grief can distort judgment and lead to misplaced guilt. His admission that he "couldn't look at you without seeing her" shows how grief can sever even the closest bonds.
Apology and forgiveness are explored through the father's apology and Sadie's conditional offer to Parker. The chapter emphasizes that forgiveness is not automatic or magical—Sadie notes that the moment with her father "didn't magically make everything better," but it also "didn't make things worse."
Flowers as symbols recur. The orchid from the Kims represents pride and support, while the marigold—her mother's favorite flower—becomes a symbol of apology and memory. Sadie says that now, whenever she sees a marigold, she thinks of both her mother and her father apologizing.
Hiding and shame are embodied by Parker's shadow. She hides rather than face the truth, and Sadie's observation that Parker might be "already punishing herself" suggests that shame can be a form of self-inflicted torment.
Redefining winning is introduced at the chapter's end. Sadie's portrait loses the contest, but she gains a deeper understanding of what truly matters—connection, honesty, and self-acceptance.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter delivers the emotional payoff of the family mystery that has simmered throughout the novel. It resolves the question of whether Sadie's father truly blamed her, and it provides a long-overdue apology that allows Sadie to begin healing. The scene with Parker's shadow is pivotal because it shows Sadie choosing compassion over retaliation, setting the stage for her eventual redefinition of success. The chapter also deepens the theme that winning is not about external validation but about internal peace and the courage to face one's own truth.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Sadie decide to speak to Parker's shadow, and what does she hope to achieve?
Sadie recognizes that the evening has "shredded" the normal stories the family tells about themselves, creating a rare opportunity to say something true. She speaks for her own sake, not expecting Parker to respond or change. She wants to express her desire for a sister and to offer a genuine, conditional path to forgiveness, knowing that Parker may never take it. The act is about Sadie's own healing and integrity.
2. How does Sadie's father's apology differ from a simple "I'm sorry"?
His apology is specific and vulnerable. He admits the exact words he said to Lucinda, describes his drinking and locked door, recalls Sadie crying in the hallway, and acknowledges that he still averts his eyes. He does not make excuses, and he explicitly says he does not expect forgiveness. He also takes responsibility for the ongoing pattern, not just the past. This specificity makes the apology feel genuine and earned.
3. What does the marigold symbolize in this chapter, and how does it connect to the theme of redefining winning?
The marigold is her mother's favorite flower, and Sadie's father brings it as a gesture of remembrance. When he tucks it behind her ear, it becomes a symbol of apology and reconciliation—a small, tangible act of love. The marigold also connects to the idea that winning is not about contest results. Sadie loses the portrait contest, but she gains a meaningful moment with her father and a new understanding of what truly matters, making the marigold a reminder that some victories are invisible.