Chapter 13 Summary: Facing Doubt and Forging a Plan

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

Chapter Summary

Giada and Sinistro escape the underground city of Malafi through the fisher strega’s cave and emerge near the family boat shed. At home, the house feels empty without Rocco. After drinking basil lemonade and replenishing supplies, Giada bikes to Alessia’s house. She confesses that she made a bargain with the Streghe del Malocchio to free Rocco. Alessia is shocked but insists on joining the rescue effort rather than just being a lookout. She has been researching soul-healing spells in case Rocco suffers emotional harm. Together they ride to the Ferraro home, where Zia Clementina has sought help. Giada tells Zia that Rocco is held by the Streghe del Malocchio and proves her sincerity by explaining the signs of bad luck she ignored. Zia initially dismisses the story as a fever dream, noting that the evil witches rarely kidnap surface-dwellers. Giada cannot produce the golden walnut she brought as proof, so Zia tells her to rest. Frustrated, Giada storms out, determined to act on her own. Alessia follows and learns the bargain: the Streghe del Malocchio want a moon and stars for their sunless world. Giada plans to grow a moon from moonlight, inspired by a story her nonna told about Lake Nemi, and to fish stars from the sky. Alessia worries about the risks but agrees to help for Rocco’s sake.

Key Events

Giada and Sinistro exit Malafi via the fisher strega’s cave and return home.
She discovers Zia Clementina is not home; the house feels empty without Rocco.
Giada tells Alessia about the bargain she made with the Streghe del Malocchio.
Alessia insists on participating actively, not just as a lookout.
They go to the Ferraro house, where Zia Clementina is with Paolo and Ari.
Giada explains that Rocco was taken and that she witnessed him in a plush cage.
Zia Clementina does not believe Giada, thinking it a dream.
Giada loses the golden walnut—her proof—somewhere in Malafi.
Zia advises rest; Giada rebels, declaring she will rescue Rocco on her own.
Alessia follows and learns the full terms of the bargain: a moon made from moonlight and stars taken from the sky.
Alessia points out that stars cannot survive underground and that removing them would harm tethered streghe.
Despite the risks, Alessia commits to helping Giada.

Character Development

Giada grows more determined and independent. She takes ownership of her mistake (wishing Rocco away) and refuses to let adults dismiss her. Her frustration with Zia shows she is willing to challenge authority for the sake of family.
Alessia transitions from a cautious observer to an active partner. She has prepared for the emotional toll of the ordeal by studying soul-healing spells. Her insistence on being more than a lookout demonstrates her loyalty and courage.
Zia Clementina remains protective but skeptical. Her refusal to believe Giada stems from years of knowing the Streghe del Malocchio as intentional and not reckless. This disbelief creates a temporary rift but also forces Giada to rely on herself and Alessia.
Sinistro continues as Giada’s loyal familiar, offering silent encouragement and presence.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Belief vs. Doubt: Giada cannot convince Zia without the golden walnut. The theme of needing tangible proof recurs, highlighting the tension between youthful intuition and adult skepticism.
Light vs. Darkness: The sunless Malafi contrasts with the bright surface world. The bargain—to bring moon and stars underground—represents the desire for hope and natural cycles in a place of perpetual gloom.
Responsibility and Consequence: Giada’s careless wish to disappear her brother led to his kidnapping. She now accepts that she must fix what she broke, a clear maturation point.
Collaboration: Alessia’s decision to join the mission underscores the motif that heroes rarely act alone. Friends bring complementary skills—Alessia’s research balances Giada’s impulsive bravery.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 13 is a pivot point. Giada fails to persuade her aunt, solidifying her role as the one who must take action without adult approval. The bargain is fully laid out, introducing a magical task that requires creativity and mythic knowledge (Lake Nemi, moon vines). The risks of moving stars are raised, adding moral complexity. Most importantly, Giada gains a committed ally in Alessia, shifting the rescue from a solo mission to a partnership. The chapter deepens the story’s ethical stakes: saving Rocco may require harming the living stars and the streghe connected to them.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Zia Clementina refuse to believe that the Streghe del Malocchio kidnapped Rocco?
Zia knows the Streghe del Malocchio as cautious and deliberate; she says they rarely kidnap people from the surface. Without physical proof (the golden walnut), she thinks Giada dreamed the encounter or is sick. Her concern manifests as a desire to put Giada to rest rather than face a terrifying truth.

2. What are the two tasks the Streghe del Malocchio demand from Giada, and what risks are associated with one of them?
They demand a moon grown from gathered moonlight and stars taken from the sky. Alessia warns that stars are sentient and connected to other streghe; removing a star could kill it and cause those witches to lose their magic. This introduces a dilemma: saving Rocco might harm innocent beings.

3. How does Alessia’s role change in this chapter compared to earlier chapters?
Before, Alessia served as a lookout and source of information. Here she insists on playing a direct part, researching soul-healing spells and questioning the plan’s feasibility. She becomes an active collaborator, bringing caution and book knowledge to balance Giada’s headstrong determination.