Chapter 3 Summary: Key Events, 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

Sariyah returns home from a long thrift-shopping trip with Malcolm, exhausted and ready to relax. As she enters the apartment, her younger brother Josiah ambushes her with a Nerf football, and the two quickly fall into a playful chase that ends with Sariyah pinning him to his bed. Their mother, Mama, interrupts and calls them to dinner, reminding them to stop roughhousing.

At the table, Mama gives Josiah his hydroxyurea, a medication that helps manage his sickle cell disease. Sariyah reflects on the family's move from Chefly, Georgia, to Atlanta when Josiah was two, so he could access better medical care. Their father stayed behind to work the family farm, and the separation weighs on Sariyah, though she tries not to dwell on it.

Mama places a frozen Stouffer's lasagna on the table, a clear sign she's upset—she usually cooks fresh meals. Sariyah tries to lighten the mood by mentioning Malcolm's plans to rent a hotel room for his eighteenth birthday, but Mama dismisses the idea because he's not twenty-one. Sariyah then shares that a woman gave them tickets to a music festival as a thank-you for fulfilling a need. Mama immediately disapproves, warning Sariyah about helping strangers and referencing Grandma's troubled history with the same ability. Grandma was called a witch, attacked and robbed, and died bitter. Sariyah wishes she hadn't inherited the gift.

Josiah asks if he can go to the festival, but Mama says no and turns her attention to Sariyah's failing grades. She reveals that both physics and math teachers emailed about her performance, and she insists Sariyah study for an upcoming quiz. Sariyah protests, but Mama is firm, even threatening to keep her from the festival unless she passes.

During dinner, Mama receives a phone call and learns that the attacker's name has been released: Danny Irvine. He's awake and talking. Sariyah chokes on her water, panicking that he might implicate her in the stabbing. She tries to reassure herself that she won't be in trouble, but the anxiety lingers. Mama goes to lie down, and Sariyah studies the study guide for hours, finding that the formulas distract her from her worries.

At 10 PM, Sariyah's mind turns to Tessa, as it does every night. Malcolm texts her a photo of tater tots with sour cream and sriracha—Tessa's favorite—and they exchange messages about Casey, a case they both still obsess over. Malcolm mentions that the police gaslighted them, and Sariyah sends her love.

The next day, Sariyah takes the quiz in a small group with accommodations from her IEP. She's surprised to find she actually knows some of the answers, thanks to her intense studying. She passes, though her overall grade remains low. Afterward, she and her friend Deja go to the media center. Deja talks about her own family tensions, mentioning her stepdad's attempts to stop her from going to the festival and her mom's inconsistent parenting. She calls the festival a rite of passage and a last hurrah, embracing a carpe diem attitude.

Key Events

Sariyah returns from thrift shopping and is hit by a Nerf football thrown by Josiah.
Mama serves frozen lasagna, signaling her emotional state.
Josiah takes his sickle cell medication, hydroxyurea.
Sariyah reveals the music festival tickets and Mama disapproves, citing Grandma's past.
Mama scolds Sariyah about failing grades and requires her to study for a quiz.
Mama receives a call revealing the attacker's name: Danny Irvine, who is awake and talking.
Sariyah studies intensely and passes the quiz the next day.
At 10 PM, Sariyah and Malcolm text about Tessa and Casey.
Deja and Sariyah talk in the media center about family and the festival.

Character Development

This chapter deepens Sariyah's internal conflict. She carries guilt over her ability, especially after the attack at Sweet Pea's, and now fears Danny Irvine might expose her involvement. Her anxiety is palpable, yet she also shows resilience by studying hard and passing the quiz. Her relationship with Mama is strained—Mama's disapproval of her gift and her worry about safety create tension, but Sariyah still wishes her mother were healthier, even hoping for punishment as a sign of engagement.

Mama emerges as a complex figure. Her mental health struggles are hinted at through the frozen lasagna and her withdrawal after the phone call. She's protective but also burdened, and her reference to Grandma's persecution shows she fears for Sariyah's safety. Josiah provides comic relief but also highlights the family's sacrifices; his illness is the reason they moved, and his teasing shows a normal sibling bond.

Deja is introduced as a supportive friend. She offers to help Sariyah cheat on the quiz, but Sariyah doesn't need it. Deja's own family issues—her stepdad's opposition and her mom's erratic behavior—parallel Sariyah's home life, and her