Chapter 10 Summary, Analysis, 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

Chapter 10 opens on the first morning of spring break. Sariyah wakes at 6:30 a.m., far earlier than she should, driven by an all-consuming fear that she will miss something while asleep—or dream of someone who is missing and have to wake to the reality that Deja is still gone. She reflects that her life has become a horror movie with unnecessary early mornings, stabbings, and missing girls.

Sariyah joins her nine-year-old brother Josiah in the living room, where he is watching cartoons. He makes room for her on the couch, and she tries to keep a pleasant face while internally panicking. Josiah mentions that their mother came home from work and went straight to her room. While flipping through channels, Sariyah sees Deja's mother, Ms. Jasmine, on the news, pleading tearfully for her daughter's return. Josiah makes two unsettling observations: that Ms. Jasmine looks different, and that she appears to be fake crying because no tears are coming out. He also reveals that Ms. Jasmine was a substitute teacher in his class before Christmas and made the students have silent lunch, which he interprets as mean. Sariyah dismisses his claims, but the comments leave an uneasy feeling in her gut.

Sariyah FaceTimes Jude and Malcolm. Malcolm, with his dog Miss Doretta under his chin, notes that the news coverage is proof his family has money and connections—and questions whether they have enough of either. Sariyah points out that local news runs only brief, non-primetime segments, calling it a missing person diversity plug for the month. Malcolm references what didn't work for Tessa and what did work for Casey, suggesting they need to do more. Sariyah proposes a rally at the school on Wednesday to pass out flyers and get Find Deja trending. Jude and Malcolm agree.

After the call, Sariyah reflects on her conversation with Deja in the media center the day before the festival, when Deja mentioned her mom and stepdad, and said her mom would have something to say after—but that she wouldn't be listening. Sariyah wonders if Deja knew she would be gone, or if she is clinging to that idea to make herself feel better. She feels like a horrible friend, believing Deja never should have set foot in Hyde Park, and that it is her responsibility to explore every angle to bring her home. She couldn't do it for Tess, but she will do it for Deja.

Sariyah takes the bus to Hyde Park, sharing her location with Jude, who immediately texts and then says he is on his way. She arrives at Phillip's house—a rundown structure with rotting wood and chipped butter-yellow paint. Phillip, who prefers to be called Philly, is a man in his fifties who leans heavily on a cane and lives in a cluttered, buggy, stifling home. He offers her a sandwich, which she declines. He apologizes for his earlier joke about paying her for her ability, then reveals he was an electrician before rheumatoid arthritis forced him to stop. He offers to connect her with trade school opportunities, noting that she mentioned school wasn't her thing. Sariyah is genuinely interested—trade school is something she has been considering—but she is nervous about bringing it up to her parents, especially her mother, who wants her to get a degree.

When Sariyah asks Phillip about Deja and tries to leave missing-person flyers, his demeanor shifts to annoyance. He deflects with a rant about the internet causing the world's problems, then excuses himself to the bathroom. While he is gone, Sariyah steps into the living room, which is filled with hip-high mounds of clutter. She notices a wood plank door and considers opening it, but a loud clank from beneath her feet startles her. Through a large gap in the floorboards, she sees the cement floor of the basement below—and something moving down there. Before she can investigate further, Phillip appears behind her, spits into a Coke can, and catches her snooping, demanding to know what she is doing.

Key Events

Sariyah wakes early on spring break, consumed by anxiety about Deja's disappearance.
Josiah reveals that Ms. Jasmine was a substitute teacher at his school and made the class have silent lunch; he also claims she was fake crying on the news.
Ms. Jasmine appears on local news, pleading for Deja's return.
Sariyah, Jude, and Malcolm agree to organize a rally at the school on Wednesday to raise awareness and get Find Deja trending.
Malcolm notes that his family's money and connections are what got Ms. Jasmine on the news, and questions whether they have enough influence.
Sariyah visits Phillip (Philly), Danny's brother, in Hyde Park.
Phillip offers to connect Sariyah with trade school opportunities, revealing he was an electrician.
Phillip becomes evasive when Sariyah asks about Deja and tries to leave flyers.
While Phillip is in the bathroom, Sariyah explores his cluttered living room and sees movement in the basement through a gap in the floorboards.
Phillip returns and catches Sariyah snooping.

Character Development

Sariyah is consumed by guilt and self-blame in this chapter. She believes Deja never should have set foot in Hyde Park and that it is her responsibility to bring her home. Her internal monologue reveals a deep sense of failure tied to Tess, a previous case she could not solve. This guilt drives her to take risks—visiting Phillip alone, sharing her location with Jude as a safety measure, and snooping through his home. Her decision to explore Phillip's living room shows a growing willingness to cross boundaries in pursuit of answers, even at personal risk.

Malcolm emerges as pragmatic and strategic. He understands the mechanics of media attention, noting that his family's money and connections are what got Ms. Jasmine on the news. He references Tessa and Casey as prior cases with different outcomes, suggesting he has learned from past failures. His decision to create a group chat without Deja is a small but telling moment—he is preparing for a long campaign, not a quick resolution.

Josiah provides an unexpected perspective. His blunt observations about Ms. Jasmine—that she looks different, that she is fake crying, that she was mean as a substitute—plant seeds of doubt in Sariyah's mind. Though Sariyah dismisses him, his comments linger and contribute to her unease about Deja's home life.

Phillip is introduced as a complex figure. He is initially warm and generous, offering trade school connections and expressing gratitude for Sariyah's kindness. But his demeanor shifts sharply when she mentions Deja, and his evasiveness, combined with the movement in the basement, makes him a figure of suspicion by the chapter's end.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Guilt and self-blame: Sariyah's internal monologue is dominated by guilt. She believes she is responsible for Deja's disappearance because she knew Deja should not have gone to Hyde Park. This guilt drives her to investigate every angle, even at personal risk.

Class and privilege in media attention: Malcolm's comments about his family's money and connections highlight how media coverage of missing persons is uneven. Sariyah's observation that local news runs brief, non-primetime segments—a missing person diversity plug for the month—critiques how the media treats cases based on race and class.

Suspicion and distrust: The chapter builds suspicion on multiple fronts. Josiah's claims about Ms. Jasmine cast doubt on her public plea. Phillip's evasiveness and the movement in his basement create a new source of suspicion. Sariyah's growing distrust of everyone around her reflects the psychological toll of the investigation.

Hidden secrets: The basement, the wood plank door, and the movement beneath the floorboards symbolize hidden truths. Phillip's cluttered home, with its narrow paths and teetering piles, suggests a life full of things he is not revealing.

Boundary-crossing and snooping: Sariyah's decision to explore Phillip's living room while he is in the bathroom marks a significant shift. She is no longer just asking questions—she is actively searching for answers, even if it means invading someone's privacy.

Alternative life paths: Phillip's offer of trade school connections represents a possible future for Sariyah that does not involve a traditional college degree. This theme connects to her broader anxiety about her own future and her mother's expectations.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 10 deepens the mystery and raises the stakes. It introduces a new suspect in Phillip, whose evasiveness and the movement in his basement create a tangible lead for Sariyah to pursue. The chapter also complicates the picture of Deja's home life through Josiah's observations about Ms. Jasmine, suggesting that the public plea for Deja's return may not tell the whole story.

The chapter also develops Sariyah's character significantly. Her guilt over Tess and her belief that she failed Deja drive her to take greater risks, crossing boundaries she previously would not have crossed. Her decision to snoop through Phillip's home marks a turning point in her investigation—she is no longer just a concerned friend but an active investigator willing to break rules for answers.

Finally, the chapter critiques how media attention works for missing persons cases, particularly for Black girls. Malcolm's comments about money and connections, and Sariyah's observation about the diversity plug, highlight systemic inequities that the characters must navigate as they try to get Deja's name out there.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Sariyah feel responsible for Deja's disappearance, and how does this guilt shape her actions in this chapter?

Sariyah believes Deja never should have set foot in Hyde Park, and she feels she knew this but did not stop her. She also reflects on her failure to help Tess, a previous case, and is determined not to repeat that failure. This guilt drives her to visit Phillip alone, share her location with Jude as a safety measure, and ultimately snoop through Phillip's home—actions she might not have taken otherwise.

2. What role does class and privilege play in the characters' efforts to get Deja's name out there?

Malcolm notes that his family's money and connections are what got Ms. Jasmine on the news, and he questions whether they have enough influence to do more. Sariyah criticizes local news for running brief, non-primetime segments, calling it a missing person diversity plug for the month. The characters recognize that media attention is unevenly distributed and that they need to do more than rely on local news to get Deja the exposure she needs.

3. What evidence in this chapter suggests that Phillip may be hiding something about Deja's disappearance?

Phillip's demeanor shifts from warm and generous to annoyed and evasive when Sariyah mentions Deja and tries to leave flyers. He deflects with a rant about the internet and excuses himself to the bathroom. While he is gone, Sariyah sees movement in the basement through a gap in the floorboards, and Phillip catches her snooping. His behavior, combined with the unexplained movement, makes him a figure of suspicion.