Chapter 13 Summary and Study Guide

⚠️ 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

On the fourth day of virtual school, Knox is overwhelmed. Staring at a screen all day makes his eyes ache, and the fifteen-hour time difference from Hong Kong means he can’t ask his teacher questions in real time or chat with his friend Lily. He feels like “day-old bread” — stale and out of sync. He tells his mom he isn’t cut out for this, and she responds with warmth, placing her hands on his chin and reassuring him that everyone is struggling. Knox notices that his siblings seem to be managing better, which embarrasses him.

To give them both a break, Mom suggests searching the garage for old SARS masks to send to Dad in Hong Kong, who is running low. The garage is cold and dusty, filled with Grandma Francine’s boxes. They don’t find any masks, but they discover a box of black-and-white photos. Knox is intrigued by the people in funny hats and clothes, and then he realizes they’re all wearing masks. Mom turns one over and reads “1918” — these are photos of Knox’s great-grandmother during the 1918 pandemic. Knox recalls a Netflix special about it, and Mom corrects him, saying it was real and devastating. She reassures him in Mandarin that this time is different because people have evolved and learned, but Knox privately wonders why they’re still hunting for masks if she truly believes that.

That evening, Mom puts a frozen pizza in the oven while trying to return a work email. The Wi-Fi is weak, so she paces the kitchen with her phone. Lea notices a strange smell, and Knox realizes the pizza is burning. Mom turns off the oven, but the pizza is charred. They eat the burnt pizza and a salad while Skyping with Dad. Dad reports about twenty COVID cases in Hong Kong and mentions the government will quarantine people who’ve been to the mainland. Knox complains that they’re already quarantined even though they haven’t been to the mainland. The pizza tastes terrible — Knox says it’s like “toasted eraser” — and Bowen defends Mom, leading to a small argument. Mom breaks off the blackened crusts and tells Knox not to waste food.

Dad gently apologizes for not being there to cook, and Mom insists she’s fine. An awkward silence follows. Dad changes the subject to online school, and all three kids complain. Lea misses her friends, Bowen thinks they should just do Khan Academy, and Knox groans. Mom thinks for a long moment and then suggests she could call local schools to see if they can enroll the kids. Lea and Bowen are thrilled — Bowen dreams of a real track stadium, and Lea imagines inviting new friends to her birthday party. But Knox is upset. He thought the move was temporary, and he doesn’t want to accept that they might stay. Mom says distance learning from another country is unsustainable, especially for Knox. He feels exposed and scared that he’ll be separated from Dad forever, so he bolts to his room.

Key Events

Knox struggles with virtual school due to the time difference, feeling isolated and anxious.
Mom comforts Knox and suggests a garage search for old SARS masks to send to Dad.
They find 1918 pandemic photos of Knox’s great-grandmother wearing a mask.
Mom reassures Knox that this pandemic is different, but Knox doubts her confidence.
Mom burns a frozen pizza while trying to return a work email; the family eats the charred pizza during a Skype call with Dad.
Dad reports about twenty COVID cases in Hong Kong and mentions upcoming quarantines.
The kids complain about online school, prompting Mom to suggest enrolling them in local schools.
Lea and Bowen are excited, but Knox is devastated because he believed the move was temporary.
Knox runs to his room, overwhelmed by fear of permanent separation from Dad.

Character Development

Knox — This chapter deepens Knox’s internal conflict. He’s not just struggling with school; he’s wrestling with the possibility that his family’s move might be permanent. His reaction to Mom’s suggestion to enroll in local schools reveals his deep fear of losing his connection to Dad. Knox’s vulnerability is shown through his physical discomfort (sore eyes, numb buttocks) and his emotional outbursts. He also shows a protective instinct, setting a place for Dad at the dinner table and placing his iPad at the head of the table to include him.

Mom — Mom is stretched thin, trying to work, parent, and manage the household. Her attempt to return a work email leads to the burnt pizza, showing her stress. She tries to reassure Knox with warmth and cultural heritage, but her own actions (searching for masks) betray her anxiety. Her suggestion to enroll the kids in local schools is practical but also a sign that she’s accepting the situation more than Knox wants to.

Bowen and Lea — They adapt more quickly to the idea of staying in America. Bowen’s excitement about a track stadium and Lea’s birthday party plans show their resilience and desire for normalcy. Their enthusiasm contrasts sharply with Knox’s resistance, highlighting the siblings’ different coping mechanisms.

Dad — Though physically absent, Dad remains a stabilizing presence. He jokes about wearing a ski mask, reports on the situation in Hong Kong, and gently apologizes for not being able to cook for them. His question about online school shifts the conversation and indirectly leads to Mom’s suggestion about local schools.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Time and Disconnection — The fifteen-hour time difference is a constant reminder of the family’s separation. Knox feels like “day-old bread,” a metaphor for being stale and out of sync. The time difference prevents real-time communication, symbolizing the emotional distance between the family members.

Historical Parallels — The 1918 photos serve as a powerful symbol. They connect the current pandemic to a past one, offering both comfort (people survived) and anxiety (the devastation was real). Mom uses the photos to reassure Knox that humanity has learned, but Knox’s doubt suggests that history doesn’t always ease present fears.

Food as Care and Failure — The burnt pizza is a symbol of Mom’s overwhelmed state. She tries to make it seem okay, but Knox’s reaction (“toasted eraser”) shows that the family’s attempts at normalcy are falling short. The act of breaking off the blackened crusts and telling Knox not to waste food reflects a cultural value of frugality and resilience, but also a forced acceptance of imperfection.

The Garage as Memory — The garage holds Grandma Francine’s old boxes, representing family history and heritage. The discovery of the photos links the family’s past to their present struggle, reminding them that they’ve survived crises before.

The Fear of Permanence — Knox’s reaction to the idea of enrolling in local schools is the chapter’s emotional climax. The suggestion transforms the move from a temporary emergency into a potential long-term change, which Knox cannot accept. This theme of impermanence versus permanence drives his fear.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 13 is pivotal because it forces the family to confront the possibility that their relocation might not be temporary. Up to this point, the move has been framed as a short-term escape from COVID in Hong Kong. Mom’s suggestion to enroll the kids in local schools is a practical acknowledgment that distance learning from another country is unsustainable. This moment crystallizes Knox’s central conflict: he wants to believe the separation from Dad is temporary, but the adults are starting to plan for a longer stay.

The chapter also deepens the family’s emotional landscape. The burnt pizza and the Skype call show how they try to maintain connection despite distance, but also how stress fractures their routines. The 1918 photos introduce a historical perspective that both comforts and unsettles, reminding readers that pandemics are not new but that each generation must find its own way through.

Knox’s flight to his room at the end sets up future conflict — he is not ready to accept the new reality, and his resistance will likely shape the next chapters. This chapter also highlights the theme of parental sacrifice and the difficult choices families make during crises.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Knox react so strongly to Mom’s suggestion to enroll them in local schools?

Knox reacts strongly because he has been clinging to the belief that the move to California is temporary. Enrolling in local schools would make the separation from Dad feel permanent. He fears that if they start building a life in America, he’ll be separated from his father forever. His siblings’ excitement only deepens his sense of isolation, as they seem to have forgotten about Dad.

2. How do the 1918 photos affect Knox and Mom differently?

For Mom, the photos are a reminder of resilience and survival — she uses them to reassure Knox that humanity has learned from the past and that this pandemic will be over quickly. For Knox, the photos are initially a curiosity, but they also trigger fear because they remind him of the devastating reality of pandemics. He questions Mom’s confidence, wondering why they’re searching for masks if she truly believes the virus will be over soon.

3. What does the burnt pizza symbolize in this chapter?

The burnt pizza symbolizes Mom’s overwhelmed state and the family’s struggle to maintain normalcy. She forgets the timer because she’s distracted by work, showing how the pandemic has stretched her thin. The charred pizza also becomes a point of conflict between Knox and Bowen, highlighting the siblings’ tension. Mom’s insistence that it’s “not that bad” and her act of breaking off the crusts reflect her attempt to make the best of a bad situation, but Knox’s disgust shows that the family’s coping mechanisms are fraying.