Chapter 59 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 at school with an atmosphere of quiet worry. Teachers are scrambling to place hand sanitizer in every classroom, but there isn't enough for each class to have its own supply. As a result, Mrs. Turner's class must share with the neighboring class, and she sets up a table between the two rooms. She instructs everyone to squirt a dollop of sanitizer onto their hands, and the students line up.
Tyler, who stands ahead of the narrator, ignores the instruction and pours nearly a full cup of sanitizer into his hands, treating it like whipped cream. Mrs. Turner scolds him, pointing out that drenching yourself in sanitizer doesn't make you safer. Tyler defends himself, saying he wants to be extra safe and doesn't want to catch the disease, glaring at the narrator and Christopher as he says the word.
The narrator steps in, explaining that all you need is about the size of a quarter, but you must rub it over your entire hand, including between fingers and under nails, for twenty seconds. The narrator demonstrates the technique, recalling the YouTube videos Mom made them watch back in Hong Kong. Mrs. Turner praises the demonstration, calling it brilliant, and the classmates immediately copy the narrator. Together, the class sings “Happy Birthday” to time the full twenty seconds. When Christopher turns to give the narrator a high five, he stops and they bump elbows instead, a small but telling sign of the new social norms.
After school, the narrator stays behind to help Mrs. Turner wipe up the goop that has solidified on the table from so many kids squirting sanitizer. Mrs. Turner thanks them and asks if they're liking their new school. The narrator says yes, and Mrs. Turner tells them they're doing super. The narrator feels a swell of pride, seeing their promise reflected in Mrs. Turner's eyes. They exchange warm words—the narrator calls Mrs. Turner a great teacher, and she says she loves teaching.
Mrs. Turner then mentions that she told the district superintendent that morning that she'd be sad if the school had to close. The narrator is shocked—the possibility of school closures hadn't crossed their mind. They start panicking at the thought of being trapped at home with their siblings, trying to figure out online school again. Mrs. Turner explains that the virus could spread, and she shares her deeper concern: the children who rely on free lunches would go hungry. She notes that twenty-two million kids in the US depend on free school lunches, many of them children of color.
The narrator furrows their eyebrows, wondering if they are on free lunch. The cafeteria lady almost never asks them for money, usually saying “You're good, hon,” so the narrator had assumed Mom was paying. Mrs. Turner sighs and says she hopes it won't come to that, gazing at the almost empty bottle of sanitizer and wishing they could get more.
Key Events
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Teachers distribute hand sanitizer, but supplies are short, so classrooms share.
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Tyler overuses sanitizer, and Mrs. Turner corrects him.
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The narrator demonstrates the proper hand-sanitizing technique, earning praise.
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The class sings “Happy Birthday” to time the twenty-second rub.
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Christopher and the narrator bump elbows instead of high-fiving.
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The narrator helps Mrs. Turner clean up solidified sanitizer after school.
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Mrs. Turner praises the narrator's progress and expresses sadness about potential school closures.
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Mrs. Turner reveals that 22 million US children depend on free school lunches.
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The narrator wonders if they receive free lunch, since the cafeteria lady never asks for money.
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Mrs. Turner wishes for more sanitizer, hinting at ongoing shortages.
Character Development
The narrator continues to grow in confidence. Earlier in the book, they struggled with the move and the pandemic's disruptions, but here they step into the role of a “pandemic expert,” proudly sharing knowledge learned in Hong Kong. This moment of validation from Mrs. Turner—who calls their demonstration brilliant—reinforces the narrator's sense of belonging and competence. The narrator also shows empathy and curiosity when they wonder about their own free-lunch status, indicating a growing awareness of economic inequality and the hidden struggles of others.
Mrs. Turner emerges as a caring and thoughtful teacher. She corrects Tyler gently, praises the narrator, and expresses genuine concern for vulnerable children. Her willingness to share her worries with the narrator deepens their bond and gives the narrator a window into adult anxieties about the pandemic.
Tyler's behavior highlights the fear and misinformation that can spread during a health crisis. His excessive use of sanitizer and his glare at the narrator and Christopher reveal a lingering stigma, but Mrs. Turner's firm correction and the narrator's calm demonstration help redirect the class toward proper hygiene.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Pandemic Preparedness and Hygiene Education: The chapter emphasizes the importance of correct hand-washing technique, contrasting Tyler's panic-driven overuse with the narrator's measured, informed approach. The shared sanitizer bottle symbolizes the broader shortage of resources during the pandemic.
Social Distancing Norms: The elbow bump replacing a high five is a small but powerful symbol of how everyday interactions changed. It shows the characters adapting to new rules while still trying to maintain connection.
Food Insecurity and Inequality: Mrs. Turner's mention of 22 million children relying on free lunches introduces a systemic issue. The narrator's realization that they might be one of those children adds a personal layer, hinting at the family's financial struggles without stating them outright.
Teacher Validation and Belonging: Mrs. Turner's praise and her reflection of the narrator's promise fill the narrator's heart, reinforcing their sense of place in the new school. This motif of adult affirmation is crucial for a child navigating a major life change.
Anxiety About School Closure: The narrator's panic at the thought of online school again taps into the trauma of the earlier lockdown. This theme connects to the broader uncertainty of the pandemic and the emotional toll on children.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter serves as a turning point in the narrator's adjustment to their new school. They move from being a passive observer to an active contributor, sharing knowledge and earning respect. The positive interaction with Mrs. Turner strengthens their trust in adults and their hope for stability.
At the same time, the chapter introduces the real threat of school closures, which looms over the rest of the story. Mrs. Turner's concern about free lunches and the narrator's dawning awareness of their own situation add depth to the family's financial struggles, which have been hinted at but not fully explored. The chapter also captures the everyday realities of pandemic life—sanitizer shortages, elbow bumps, and the constant fear of the virus—making the historical moment vivid and relatable.
Finally, the chapter sets up future conflicts: the possibility of online school, the narrator's questions about their family's finances, and the ongoing need for resources. It deepens the reader's investment in the narrator's journey and the community around them.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does the narrator feel proud when demonstrating the hand-sanitizing technique?
The narrator remembers the YouTube videos Mom made them watch in Hong Kong, and they are able to apply that knowledge in a new setting. Mrs. Turner's praise and the classmates' imitation make the narrator feel like a “pandemic expert,” giving them a sense of competence and belonging that they have been seeking since moving.
2. What does Mrs. Turner's comment about free lunches reveal about the broader impact of school closures?
Mrs. Turner points out that 22 million children in the US depend on free school lunches, many of them children of color. This reveals that school closures would not only disrupt education but also cut off a vital source of nutrition for vulnerable families, highlighting the social inequities that the pandemic exacerbated.
3. How does the narrator's reaction to the possibility of school closure differ from their earlier feelings about online school?
Earlier in the book, the narrator experienced online school as a difficult and isolating experience. When Mrs. Turner mentions the possibility of closure, the narrator immediately panics, thinking about being trapped at home with siblings and having to figure out online school again. This reaction shows that the narrator has come to value the in-person school environment and the connection it provides, making the threat of closure more frightening than before.