Now Is Not the Time to Panic: Questions and Answers

Why does Frances answer the phone when Mazzy calls the first time, despite sensing danger?

Frances picks up because she is caught off guard; the caller uses her rarely used first name, and the familiar phrase freezes her. She admits responsibility almost immediately, but her instinct is to hang up and retreat. The call shatters her carefully constructed normal life, forcing her to confront a secret she believed was buried.

In the opening chapter, Frances is folding laundry while her daughter drums loudly and her husband fixes a window latch—a scene of domestic ordinariness. Mazzy's recitation of the poster's phrase triggers a visceral panic: Frances thinks, “Oh shit, oh shit,” and later tells Junie that Mazzy might be imaginary. Her decision to answer, though, suggests a subconscious readiness to face the past, even as she tries to escape it. This moment sets up the novel's central tension between concealment and revelation, and it foreshadows her eventual confession to Aaron and the world.

Explore the theme of secrecy and Frances's character.

What makes Frankie decide to help Zeke win the greased watermelon contest, and what does this reveal about her?

Frankie agrees to help Zeke because she is drawn to his vulnerability and sees a chance to escape her own isolation. She initially watches from the sidelines while her triplet brothers steal from unattended bags, but after Zeke gets hurt, she bribes her brothers to clear a path for him. This act of alliance marks the beginning of their partnership.

In the first chapter, Frankie is an outsider at the pool, observing her brothers' petty theft without participating. Zeke's approach—asking for help—breaks her detachment. She offers him twenty dollars to her brothers, a practical bribe that shows her resourcefulness and her willingness to intervene. The shared watermelon afterward creates an intimate bond, and Zeke's persistence despite his busted lip impresses her. This decision sets the stage for their summer collaboration, as Frankie recognizes in Zeke a kindred spirit who also feels alone.

How does the Xerox copier become the catalyst for the summer's art project, and what does it symbolize?

The copier, stolen by Frankie's brothers and broken, becomes the medium through which Frankie and Zeke first experiment with distortion and intimacy. Zeke repairs it, and they place their faces on the glass together, leading to their first kiss. The copier symbolizes transformation and the creation of something new from broken parts.

In chapter 3, Frankie leads Zeke to the garage where the copier sits under a tarp. Her brothers had used it to copy their buttocks, breaking it. Zeke removes a jammed sheet, and they begin copying objects, including a smeared photo of Cher. When they put their faces together, the resulting image—and the kiss—marks a turning point. The copier's ability to reproduce and distort images mirrors their own desire to escape their identities. It also foreshadows the poster's mass reproduction, as the machine becomes the tool for their anonymous art.

See the theme of unintended consequences.

What is the significance of the phrase “The edge is a shantytown filled with gold seekers,” and how does it evolve?

The phrase begins as a private code between Frankie and Zeke, a way to bond over their shared alienation. It evolves into a mantra that they repeat to calm themselves and later becomes the text of the poster that sparks the Coalfield Panic. The phrase symbolizes their desire to escape the law—both literal and metaphorical—and to claim a fugitive identity.

In chapter 4, Frankie writes the phrase on a poster, and they repeat it until it becomes a secret language. In chapter 5, they bleed onto the poster, making it a blood oath. As the poster spreads, the phrase is misinterpreted by townspeople as occult or devilish, yet for Frankie and Zeke, it remains a source of connection. In chapter 10, Frankie uses it to calm Zeke after his violent confrontation with his father. The phrase's persistence into adulthood—Frankie whispers it to Junie as a lullaby—shows its enduring power as a symbol of their shared history.

Explore the theme of authorship and anonymity.

Why does Frankie insist on keeping only the original poster when Zeke proposes making a new one with a wolf?

Frankie refuses to create a new poster because the original is sacred to her; it represents the singular moment of their collaboration and the blood they shed. She fears that altering it would dilute its meaning and break the spell it holds over her. This decision underscores her obsessive attachment to the poster as a fixed artifact.

In chapter 6, Zeke suggests a new design, but Frankie is adamant: “We keep the original.” She has already made hundreds of copies, but the original is the anchor. Her insistence reflects her need for control in a situation that is spiraling out of control. The poster has become a talisman, and changing it would feel like betraying the memory of that summer. This moment also highlights the tension between Zeke's desire to evolve and Frankie's need to preserve.

Read about the theme of the persistence of memory.

How does the town's reaction to the posters shift from curiosity to panic, and what triggers this escalation?

The shift begins when the posters are misinterpreted as occult symbols, and it accelerates after two teenagers fabricate an abduction story. The local newspaper's headline “EVIL COMES TO COALFIELD” and the sheriff's quote about “dark forces” turn the posters into a moral crisis. The panic is fueled by media amplification and the townspeople's fear of the unknown.

In chapter 7, posters are placed everywhere, and the map becomes covered in stars. In chapter 8, Hobart's article theorizes a Rimbaud quote, but the tone changes when Billy Curtis and Brooke Burton claim they were abducted by fugitives. The Tennessean article quotes the sheriff, and the story spreads beyond Coalfield. Zeke's anxiety grows, and Frankie's insistence on continuing to hang posters only deepens the crisis. The fabricated abduction story is a turning point, as it gives the panic a concrete narrative.

See the ending explained for how this escalation resolves.

What role does Hobart play in the escalation of the panic, and how does his relationship with Frankie's mother complicate things?

Hobart, a newspaper employee who secretly dates Frankie's mother, writes the first article about the posters, theorizing they are the work of teenagers. His article legitimizes the posters as a news story, but his later headline “EVIL COMES TO COALFIELD” amplifies the panic. His relationship with Frankie's mother creates a conflict of interest, as he is both a family figure and a journalist.

In chapter 7, Frankie's mother reveals Hobart's theory about Rimbaud, and the triplets deny involvement. In chapter 8, Hobart's front-page article uses the word “evil,” and Frankie's mother yells at him for it. Hobart is later trampled during the Poster Posse confrontation, breaking his leg. His role shows how small-town journalism can inadvertently fuel hysteria, and his personal connection to Frankie's family makes the situation more fraught.

Learn more about Carrie, Frankie's mother.

How does Frankie's guilt manifest after Lyle Tawwater's death, and what does she do to cope?

Frankie feels intense guilt over Lyle's death, as he died while hanging a poster he made in tribute to the original. She copes by continuing to distribute posters, rationalizing that the art is bigger than any individual. She and Zeke discuss their shared responsibility, but Frankie refuses to stop, using the poster as a way to feel real.

In chapter 9, Lyle, a boy with a sister in a coma, creates his own version of the poster and dies falling from a water tower. Frankie reflects that his death is a consequence of their creation, but she decides to keep going. She and Zeke talk about their guilt, but Frankie's adult habit of re-hanging posters suggests she never fully resolves it. This moment deepens the theme of unintended consequences and shows how art can have deadly ripple effects.

Explore the theme of unintended consequences.

Why does Frankie deliberately crash her car into a tree after Zeke breaks her arm?

Frankie crashes her car as a self-destructive act, a way to externalize the pain of Zeke's betrayal and the collapse of their partnership. She lies to her mother about the accident, using the injury as a cover for her emotional turmoil. The crash also serves as a turning point, leading to Mr. Avery's discovery of the posters.

In chapter 12, Zeke grabs her wrist, she falls down the porch steps, and he doesn't help her. She drives away and deliberately hits a tree. Mr. Avery finds her, sees the posters, and hides them before paramedics arrive. This act of self-harm is a cry for help, but it also allows Frankie to maintain her secret. The crash symbolizes her desire to break free from the summer's chaos, even at the cost of her own body.

Read about the theme of the burden of secrecy.

How does the revelation of the poster's origin affect Frankie's marriage to Aaron?

Aaron is shocked and angry that Frankie kept the secret for decades, and he struggles to reconcile her confession with his image of her. He is particularly disturbed that she still hangs posters and keeps the original in the house. The revelation tests their trust, but Aaron ultimately agrees to be patient, though he admits he will always wonder if there is more.

In chapter 14, Frankie confesses to Aaron, who reacts with disbelief and then fury. He asks if she still puts up posters, and she admits she does. He says he would have preferred she had cheated on him, because that would make more sense. Frankie asks for time to tell her mother and to work with Mazzy, and Aaron reluctantly agrees. This scene highlights the weight of long-held secrets and the difficulty of rebuilding trust.

See the ending explained for how this affects their future.

What does the backpack left at Mr. Avery's house symbolize, and why does Frankie avoid retrieving it?

The backpack contains evidence of Frankie's involvement, including her initials, and it represents the unresolved past she has tried to bury. She avoids retrieving it because doing so would force her to confront the reality of that summer and risk exposure. The backpack becomes a symbol of the secret she carries.

In chapter 13, Frankie learns that Mr. Avery hid the posters and her backpack before paramedics arrived. In chapter 15, she asks her mother about retrieving it, but her mother discourages her. The backpack's fate is unknown, and Frankie later wonders if Mazzy found it. It symbolizes the physical trace of her actions, a reminder that the past cannot be erased.

Explore the theme of the persistence of memory.

How does Zeke's transformation into Ben change the dynamic of their reunion in Memphis?

Zeke, now Ben, is older, has bipolar disorder, and works as a comic-book inker. He apologizes for hurting Frankie and asks her to keep his involvement secret. Frankie agrees to claim she acted alone, and Ben teaches her to draw the poster's image so she can pass it off as her own. The reunion is bittersweet, as they acknowledge their shared history but recognize they have become different people.

In chapter 16, Frankie drives to Memphis and finds Ben living with his parents. He apologizes for the porch incident, and they say the poster's phrase together. Ben draws her an original picture of a cottage surrounded by flames, a symbol of their boundary. Frankie agrees to take sole credit, which allows Ben to move on. This scene shows how time and mental illness have changed him, but the bond from that summer remains.

Why does Frankie agree to tell Mazzy her story after initially refusing, and what does this decision reveal?

Frankie agrees because she is exhausted from carrying the secret and wants to prove to herself that the story is real. She tells Mazzy she is tired and has felt unsettled since the first call. This decision marks the beginning of her journey toward confession and acceptance.

In chapter 9, Frankie refuses Mazzy's request, but in chapter 14, she answers the phone and says, “Okay, I'll talk to you.” She explains that she wants to say it out loud to prove she didn't invent it. This shift shows her growing need for validation and her recognition that the secret is too heavy to bear alone. It also sets up the novel's climax, where she must face the consequences of her actions.

See the theme of authorship and anonymity.

What is the significance of Junie knowing the phrase as a lullaby, and how does it connect to the novel's ending?

Junie's knowledge of the phrase shows that Frankie has unconsciously passed on the mantra to her daughter, making it a family inheritance. When Frankie explains she made a secret thing as a teenager, Junie reveals she already knows the line because Frankie whispered it to her as a lullaby. This moment suggests that the phrase has become a source of comfort and connection, not just a symbol of panic.

In chapter 17, Frankie tells Junie about the poster, and Junie recites the line. They discuss whether everyone is a fugitive, and Junie asks if being a fugitive is good; Frankie says it can be. The novel ends with Frankie repeating the line to herself, unchanged, as she looks at glow-in-the-dark stars. This circularity reinforces the theme of memory and the enduring power of the phrase.

Explore the theme of the persistence of memory.

How does the novel's structure, with interleaved “Mazzy Brower” chapters, affect the narrative?

The interleaved chapters create a frame narrative that contrasts Frankie's present-day life with her past memories. They build suspense by revealing that the secret will eventually come out, while also showing Frankie's emotional state as she grapples with the past. The structure emphasizes the tension between concealment and revelation.

The first “Mazzy Brower” chapter opens the novel, immediately establishing the stakes. The second appears after the posters have spread, showing Frankie's fear and her attempt to slow down her memories. The third occurs after she agrees to talk, marking a turning point. These chapters break the chronological flow, allowing the reader to see Frankie's adult perspective and the lasting impact of that summer. This structure highlights the theme of memory and the difficulty of escaping one's past.

Read the ending explained for how this structure culminates.