Chapter 11 'Highs and Lows' — Summary 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 Mandy packing up belongings at her parents' house, where she discovers her New Kids on the Block memorabilia from childhood. The discovery triggers a wave of nostalgia, and within weeks she sees a TV announcement of the band's reunion. She immediately calls her sister, and they decide to attend the concert together.

At the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, the sisters maneuver close to the stage, learning from experienced concertgoers exactly when the band will appear on a riser near them. When the moment comes, Mandy pushes to the front and catches the attention of Donnie Wahlberg, who kisses her. The kiss—a childhood dream fulfilled—restores her confidence after the pain of Mr. E's rejection. She describes feeling beautiful and special, like Cinderella, and goes to sleep that night with renewed hope.

The chapter then shifts to Mandy's home life with her roommate Crawford. She describes the chaos of living with a male roommate—arguments over chores, unexpected wrestling matches, and general disorder—but also the deep friendship they share: late-night candy runs, movie marathons, and prayer sessions where they discuss their heartbreaks, careers, and sense of destiny. Both are healing from recent heartache, and their friendship provides mutual support.

Meanwhile, Mandy grows closer to Steven. His kindness during her Mr. E heartbreak makes her see him differently, and boosted by the Donnie kiss, she agrees to date him. She admits she was rebounding, masking her unresolved feelings for Mr. E by rushing into a new relationship, even trying a forty-day fast from dating that she didn't fully commit to.

The plot takes a turn when Crawford announces that Mr. E and Shayla have broken up and Mr. E needs a place to stay. Mandy reluctantly agrees, and Mr. E arrives looking unkempt, wearing a floor-length black trench coat in August, and spends a week playing video games without bathing. On day ten, Mandy confronts him, tossing a bar of soap into his lap and threatening to drag him into the shower. He leaves that day, later moving back to Boone to get his life together.

Mandy continues dating Steven, but at his October birthday party, he has a sudden rage episode, destroying Crawford's birdfeeder. She ends the relationship the next morning, but after weeks of his pleas and assurances from his friends, she gives him another chance—a decision she later recognizes as a mistake that would cost her a year of torment.

Key Events

Mandy discovers her NKOTB memorabilia and feels nostalgic
The band's reunion is announced; Mandy and her sister attend the concert
Donnie Wahlberg kisses Mandy, fulfilling a childhood dream and boosting her confidence
Mandy describes her friendship with Crawford, including prayer times and movie marathons
Mandy agrees to date Steven, though she acknowledges she is rebounding
Mr. E and Shayla break up; Mr. E stays with Mandy and Crawford for a week
Mandy confronts Mr. E about his hygiene; he leaves and later moves to Boone
Steven has a rage episode at his birthday party, destroying a birdfeeder
Mandy ends the relationship but gives Steven a second chance after his pleas

Character Development

Mandy shows significant growth in this chapter. The Donnie Wahlberg kiss is a turning point—it reminds her she is worthy of love and beauty after Mr. E's rejection. However, her decision to date Steven reveals her ongoing struggle: she is still hung up on Mr. E but refuses to admit it, choosing instead to hide in a new relationship. Her confrontation with Mr. E shows a new assertiveness, but her willingness to take Steven back after his rage episode demonstrates her pattern of ignoring red flags.

Crawford emerges as a steadfast friend. He provides shelter to Mr. E out of loyalty, respects Mandy's boundaries by not sharing details about Mr. E, and serves as a prayer partner and emotional support. His friendship is presented as a healthy counterpoint to Mandy's romantic entanglements.

Mr. E appears in a diminished state, grieving dramatically in a trench coat and refusing to bathe. His theatrical grief suggests immaturity, but his quiet thanks after Mandy's confrontation hints at some self-awareness.

Steven reveals a darker side. His sudden rage episode at his birthday party—destroying property and behaving erratically—is a stark contrast to the kind, supportive friend Mandy believed she knew. His pattern of blaming external factors and recruiting friends to vouch for him foreshadows future problems.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Childhood dreams fulfilled: The NKOTB kiss represents the idea that dreams can come true, even in adulthood. Mandy frames it as a defining moment that restored her sense of worth.

Nostalgia: The discovery of her memorabilia triggers a longing for simpler times, and the concert allows her to reconnect with her younger self.

Fairy tale imagery: Mandy compares herself to Cinderella and describes Donnie as a knight in shining armor, suggesting her desire for a storybook romance—a desire that may be clouding her judgment with Steven.

Rebound relationships and masking pain: Mandy explicitly acknowledges she is rebounding from Mr. E, using Steven to avoid confronting her unresolved feelings. The forty-day fast from dating symbolizes her attempt (and failure) to heal properly.

Red flags: Steven's rage episode is described as a blazing red fire warning Mandy to run, but she ignores it. This motif of ignoring warning signs recurs throughout the chapter.

Faith and prayer: The prayer sessions with Crawford highlight Mandy's spiritual life and her belief in a divine plan, even as she struggles to wait on God's timing in love.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal for several reasons. It marks the beginning of Mandy's relationship with Steven, which the narrator hints will lead to a year of torment, lies, betrayal, and abuse. The chapter also shows Mandy's pattern of avoiding her own feelings—she is still hung up on Mr. E but refuses to acknowledge it, choosing instead to hide in a new relationship. The NKOTB kiss serves as a brief moment of genuine joy and self-worth, but it also sets up the contrast between the fairy tale romance she craves and the reality of her choices. Finally, the chapter establishes Crawford as a crucial support system, providing the kind of unconditional friendship that will sustain Mandy through the difficulties ahead.

Study Questions

1. Why does Mandy agree to date Steven even though she still has unresolved feelings for Mr. E?

Mandy is rebounding. The Donnie Wahlberg kiss boosted her confidence and made her feel worthy of love again, but she hadn't actually healed from Mr. E's rejection. She admits she was masking her pain by running into a new relationship, and her forty-day fast from dating was an attempt to address this that she didn't fully commit to. She ignored her nagging doubts because Steven had been kind and supportive, and she wanted to believe she was making a healthy choice.

2. What does Mr. E's behavior during his stay reveal about his character?

Mr. E's dramatic grief—wearing a trench coat in August, not bathing for ten days, playing video games obsessively—suggests immaturity and a tendency toward theatrical attention-seeking. Crawford notes that Mr. E always grieves the end of relationships in colorful ways. However, his quiet thanks after Mandy's confrontation suggests he may have recognized the absurdity of his behavior, and his decision to move back to Boone to recharge indicates a desire to get his life together.

3. What warning signs does Mandy ignore in Steven's behavior, and why?

Steven's rage episode at his birthday party—ripping his shirt, pouring motor oil over his head, and destroying Crawford's birdfeeder—is a major red flag. Mandy is stunned because she had known him for years without seeing this side of him. She ends the relationship but gives him another chance after his pleas and his friends' assurances. She later recognizes this was a mistake, noting that the crazy fit was like a blazing red fire warning her to run. Her decision to take him back reflects her pattern of ignoring red flags in favor of the comfort of a relationship.