Chapter 21 'Summer Song': 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 sitting with a notebook balanced on their knees. They observe that they don't eat much anymore, and it shows, so they hide their thin frame under loose clothing. This physical detail immediately signals the weight of grief the narrator carries.
The narrator then recalls a cherished summer tradition: each year, they and their brother Zachary would write a song together. This song was something they shared during car rides and vacations, and during winter they would sing it to recall the feeling of sun on their skin. The narrator cannot play guitar—Zachary played guitar—but they can still write, hum, and sing when their heart feels light enough.
In the present moment, the narrator writes the first lyric of the summer: a line about an iron smoothing creases from the spirit. They don't yet know where the song will go, but they consider that uncertainty the best part, letting the dog days of summer shape the remaining lyrics.
Key Events
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The narrator sits with a notebook, noting their loss of appetite and hiding their thinness under big clothes.
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They recall the annual songwriting tradition with Zachary, describing how the song was shared on trips and sung in winter to evoke summer warmth.
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The narrator acknowledges they cannot play guitar, but they retain the ability to write, hum, and sing when feeling light enough.
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They write the first lyric of the summer, using the metaphor of an iron smoothing spiritual creases.
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The narrator expresses openness to uncertainty, stating that not knowing where the song will go is the best part, and that the dog days of summer will decide the lyrics.
Character Development
The narrator's grief is evident through physical symptoms—not eating and hiding their body—and through the ritual of songwriting that connects them to Zachary. The tradition reveals the depth of their sibling bond and shows how creative expression serves as a coping mechanism. Even without the ability to play guitar, the narrator continues to write, hum, and sing, demonstrating resilience and a commitment to maintaining that connection. The acceptance of uncertainty in the creative process mirrors the narrator's approach to grief: allowing time and natural rhythms to guide healing rather than forcing it.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Grief and loss: The narrator's body reflects their emotional state; the song is a way to keep Zachary's memory alive.
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Sibling bond: The shared songwriting tradition symbolizes the connection between the narrator and Zachary.
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Creative expression as healing: Writing and singing become acts of remembrance and coping.
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Summer as memory: The song is tied to summer warmth and is used to evoke that feeling in winter, making it a vessel for memory.
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Iron as metaphor: The lyric about an iron smoothing creases suggests a desire for emotional comfort and the smoothing of spiritual wrinkles.
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Loss of appetite: A physical manifestation of grief that underscores the narrator's internal struggle.
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Song as connection: The song passes between the siblings, linking past and present, and serves as a bridge across loss.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens our understanding of the narrator's grief and their coping strategies. It introduces the songwriting tradition, which may be a recurring element in the narrative, and highlights the narrator's physical decline, adding urgency to their emotional journey. The acceptance of uncertainty in the creative process mirrors the narrator's approach to grief—allowing time and experience to shape healing. This chapter also establishes the importance of memory and ritual in processing loss, setting the stage for how the narrator will continue to navigate their sorrow.
Study Questions and Answers
- What does the narrator's physical condition reveal about their emotional state?
The narrator notes they don't eat much and hide their thin frame under big clothes, indicating that grief is affecting their appetite and self-image. This suggests depression or deep sorrow, and the act of hiding their body may reflect a desire to conceal their pain from others.
- How does the songwriting tradition function as a coping mechanism?
The annual songwriting with Zachary is a shared ritual that connects them. Even though Zachary is gone (implied by the past tense), the narrator continues to write, hum, and sing, using the tradition to maintain a bond and evoke positive memories of summer and togetherness. The song becomes a tangible way to keep Zachary's presence alive and to process grief through creativity.
- What is the significance of the narrator's acceptance of not knowing where the song will go?
The narrator says that not knowing is the best part, and that the dog days of summer decide the lyrics. This reflects a trust in the creative process and, metaphorically, a trust in the healing process—allowing time and natural rhythms to guide recovery rather than forcing it. It shows a willingness to be present with uncertainty, which is a key aspect of navigating grief.
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