Chapter 68 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

On Monday, the narrator and Christopher present their teacher, Mrs. Turner, with two large bottles of homemade purple glitter hand sanitizer. They made it over the weekend at Christopher's restaurant, using a bucket his dad provided, and Lea suggested adding the glitter. Mrs. Turner is delighted and tells the class there is now plenty of sanitizer to share.

As they settle onto their mat, Christopher mentions that someone has been posting mean replies to the narrator's Nextdoor post. The narrator checks and finds a comment from a user named CJ Axel, who claims that no one should want Chinese food because the virus came from China. The narrator is shocked and scrolls through the replies. Thomas Eastman points out that the virus is also in Italy and asks if anyone is avoiding pizzerias, and Rachel McKinlay questions whether CJ is blaming Chinese food itself. CJ doubles down, saying that is exactly what he means, and includes photos of discriminatory signs from an ice cream shop in Rome and a restaurant in Germany.

Christopher worries that a thousand people have seen the comment and will be too scared to order from their restaurant. The narrator decides to report the abuse on Nextdoor and plans to write another post that night, urging people to support small businesses and offering delivery for those who don't want to leave home. Christopher points out they have no delivery staff and that Uber Eats is expensive, but before they can solve that problem, Mrs. Turner announces a second locally spread COVID case in Oregon.

The class panics. Jeff covers his head, Tyler pumps twelve squirts of the new sanitizer onto his head, and Simone asks whether bathrooms are safe and if they should stop using them. The narrator, drawing on their experience in Hong Kong, explains that COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through coughing and sneezing, which is why people in Asia wear masks. Simone asks if they should wear masks too, but the narrator hesitates because they gave away all their masks except the two their mom needs for her flight to New York.

Christopher suggests moving the desks apart, just as his parents did with the tables at the restaurant. Mrs. Turner agrees, and that afternoon the class works together to clear the four corners of the classroom—removing the Focus corner, Calm Down corner, and Tablet Reward corner—and spreads the desks far apart. The narrator feels sad about losing those corners and about sitting far from their best friend, but decides the distance is worth making the classroom safer.

Key Events

The narrator and Christopher give Mrs. Turner homemade purple glitter hand sanitizer made at Christopher's restaurant.
Christopher alerts the narrator to mean replies on their Nextdoor post.
The narrator reads CJ Axel's comment blaming Chinese food for the virus, along with discriminatory signs from Rome and Germany.
The narrator reports the abuse and plans a new post about supporting small businesses and offering delivery.
Mrs. Turner announces a second locally spread COVID case in Oregon, causing panic among the students.
The narrator explains that COVID-19 spreads mainly through coughing and sneezing, and that masks are used in Asia.
Christopher suggests moving desks apart, and Mrs. Turner agrees.
The class clears the classroom corners and spreads desks out that afternoon.

Character Development

The narrator shows resilience and a community-minded spirit. Instead of being defeated by the racist comment, they immediately report it and plan a proactive response to support their family's restaurant. They also step up as a source of calm information during the panic, using their Hong Kong experience to reassure classmates about bathroom safety.
Christopher demonstrates practical problem-solving and concern for his family's business. He worries about the impact of the racist post on orders, but also offers a concrete solution—moving desks apart—based on what his parents did at the restaurant.
Mrs. Turner adapts quickly to the new situation, accepting the sanitizer, calming the class, and agreeing to rearrange the room. She shows flexibility and trust in her students' suggestions.
Simone represents the anxiety many students feel, asking direct questions about safety. Her question prompts the narrator to share accurate information.
CJ Axel (off-page) embodies the xenophobia and misinformation spreading during the pandemic, using photos as false evidence to blame a whole cuisine and community.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Racism and xenophobia during the pandemic: CJ Axel's comment and the discriminatory signs in Rome and Germany show how fear can be directed at a specific group. The narrator's decision to report and counter it highlights the need to stand against such prejudice.
Community solidarity and response: The narrator's plan to support small businesses and offer delivery, along with the class working together to rearrange the room, shows how people can come together in a crisis.
Homemade solutions: The purple glitter hand sanitizer symbolizes resourcefulness and care. It also contrasts with the fear and panic, offering a tangible way to feel safer.
Loss of normalcy: The removal of the classroom corners—Focus, Calm Down, and Tablet Reward—represents how the pandemic strips away familiar comforts and routines. The narrator's sadness about sitting far from Christopher underscores the emotional cost of physical distancing.
Misinformation and its consequences: CJ Axel's post spreads false blame, and the narrator's response shows the importance of correcting misinformation with facts and positive action.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter escalates the pandemic's impact on the narrator's world in two ways: the rise of racist rhetoric targeting their family's business and the confirmation of local COVID spread. It shows the narrator moving from passive worry to active problem-solving—reporting abuse, planning a new post, and offering delivery. The classroom scene also demonstrates how quickly fear can spread among children and how practical measures, like moving desks apart, can restore a sense of control. The loss of the classroom corners is a poignant symbol of how the pandemic forces children to give up small joys for safety. This chapter sets up ongoing challenges around racism, business survival, and adapting to a new normal, making it a pivotal moment in the story.

Study Questions and Answers

How does the narrator respond to CJ Axel's racist comment, and what does this reveal about their character?

The narrator reports the comment on Nextdoor and plans to write a new post encouraging people to support small businesses and offering delivery. This shows they are proactive, resilient, and focused on practical solutions rather than dwelling on the hate. It also reveals their commitment to their family's restaurant and their willingness to counter misinformation with positive action.

Why does the narrator hesitate when Simone asks about wearing masks?

The narrator hesitates because they gave away all their face masks except the two their mom needs for her flight to New York. They wish they had masks to give to classmates but cannot provide them. This moment highlights the scarcity of protective equipment and the narrator's internal conflict between wanting to help and having limited resources.

What does the removal of the classroom corners symbolize in this chapter?

The removal of the Focus, Calm Down, and Tablet Reward corners symbolizes the loss of normalcy and childhood comforts during the pandemic. The narrator feels sad about losing these familiar spaces and about sitting far from their best friend, but they accept the change as necessary for safety. It reflects the broader theme of sacrifice and adaptation that runs through the book.