Chapter 7: Audrey – 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.

The chapter is titled “Audrey” and is told from her point of view, set on June 15, 1812.

Summary

Audrey is led into a grand house, still reeling from the shock of being told she is in 1812. She frantically scans the interior for any sign of modern life—a wall outlet, a light fixture, a power cord, even a pair of sneakers—but finds nothing. The ornate furniture, the gilded piano, and the Regency-era paintings all look too authentic to be replicas. Her mind keeps repeating the date, and she cannot process how this is possible.

An older woman, Martha, revives Audrey with smelling salts after she nearly faints. The pungent chemical smell snaps her back to reality, but Audrey is overwhelmed. She grabs a book from a table and sees a copyright date of 1807, confirming she is truly in the past. Panic sets in, and she bolts from the room, pushing past Martha and the girl from the field, running back to the spot where she first arrived.

In the field, Audrey lies down in the grass, clutching a quarter—the same one Mr. Montgomery tossed to her at her parents’ shop. She squeezes her eyes shut, thinking of home, of her parents, of Cooper, of Pittsburgh, and of 2023, but nothing happens. She tosses the quarter in the air, hoping for a return, but she remains stuck. The girl from earlier, Lucy Sinclair, follows her, angry but concerned. Lucy scolds Audrey for frightening Martha, then sits down beside her.

Audrey introduces herself and, after some hesitation, blurts out that she is from the future—more than two hundred years ahead. Lucy is skeptical, but Audrey shows her driver’s license, which lists her birthday as December 11, 2005, and then pulls out her cell phone. She scrolls through photos of her family and a time-lapse video of Penn Avenue, with cars and electricity moving on the screen. Lucy is astonished, nearly dropping the phone. Audrey explains that Mr. Montgomery tossed her the quarter and she ended up here, but she has no idea why or how to get back.

Lucy listens, then makes a promise: they will figure out why Audrey is here and how to get her home. She invites Audrey to stay with her at Radcliffe, saying there is plenty of space. Audrey accepts, and the two walk back to the house. Lucy asks Audrey to refrain from bolting again, and Audrey agrees, joking that she will stay calm as long as Martha keeps the smelling salts away. Lucy almost laughs, and they share a moment of tentative connection.

Key Events

Audrey is led into a house and realizes she is in 1812, with no modern conveniences anywhere.
Martha revives her with smelling salts, but Audrey panics and runs back to the field where she arrived.
She tries to use the quarter to return to 2023, but nothing works.
Lucy follows her, and they have a conversation in the field.
Audrey reveals she is from the future, showing her driver’s license and a phone with moving images as proof.
She explains that Mr. Montgomery tossed her the quarter at her parents’ shop, which triggered her arrival.
Lucy promises to help Audrey get home and invites her to stay at Radcliffe.
Audrey agrees to stay calm and not bolt again, and they walk back together.

Character Development

Audrey

Audrey’s initial reaction is pure panic and denial. She searches for any sign of the modern world, and when she finds none, she flees. Her attempt to use the quarter as a return ticket shows her desperation and her belief that the object is the key. When that fails, she spirals into fear about being stuck forever, worrying about her parents and Cooper. Yet she also shows resilience and humor, joking about the smelling salts and the absurdity of her situation. By the end of the chapter, she accepts Lucy’s help and agrees to stay calm, demonstrating a willingness to trust someone in an impossible situation.

Lucy

Lucy is composed and practical. She follows Audrey to the field, scolds her for frightening Martha, but then listens patiently to Audrey’s wild story. She is skeptical at first, but the evidence of the driver’s license and the phone convinces her. Lucy’s promise to help is sincere, and her invitation to Radcliffe shows hospitality and kindness. She also reveals a subtle sense of humor when she almost laughs at Audrey’s joke, hinting at a warmth beneath her restrained exterior.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Time Travel and Displacement

The chapter establishes the central premise of time travel, but it focuses on the emotional impact of displacement. Audrey is physically in 1812, but her mind is still in 2023. She longs for the familiar—her parents, Cooper, Pittsburgh, even the hum of an air conditioner. The field where she arrives becomes a symbol of her dislocation, a place where she tries to reverse the journey but fails.

Technology as Evidence

Audrey uses her driver’s license and phone as proof of her origin. The phone, with its moving images, is particularly powerful because it shows a world Lucy cannot imagine. This motif highlights the gap between the two eras and serves as a bridge for Lucy to believe Audrey’s story.

The Quarter as Catalyst

The quarter is the object that triggers Audrey’s journey, but it also represents the mystery of why she was sent. Mr. Montgomery’s words echo in her mind: “I know you, Audrey. And what you’re looking for? It’s not here.” The quarter becomes a symbol of unanswered questions and the uncertainty of her purpose.

Hospitality and Trust

Lucy’s offer to let Audrey stay at Radcliffe is an act of trust and kindness. Despite the absurdity of Audrey’s story, Lucy chooses to help her. This theme of hospitality is central to the chapter, as it creates a bond between the two characters and sets the stage for their relationship.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the turning point of the novel’s opening. It confirms that Audrey is truly stuck in 1812 and establishes the central conflict: how to get home. It also introduces the key relationship between Audrey and Lucy, which will likely drive the rest of the story. Lucy’s promise to help and her invitation to Radcliffe provide a sense of hope and a reason for Audrey to stay. The chapter also deepens the mystery of Mr. Montgomery’s role and the purpose of Audrey’s journey, leaving readers eager to learn more.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Audrey run back to the field, and what does she hope to accomplish there?

Audrey runs back to the field because it is the spot where she first arrived. She believes that if she lies down in the same place and uses the quarter, she might be able to reverse the journey and return to 2023. She tries to focus on images of home, but nothing happens, and she realizes she is stuck.

2. How does Lucy react to Audrey’s claim that she is from the future?

Lucy is initially skeptical and says it is not possible. However, when Audrey shows her the driver’s license and the phone with moving images, Lucy is astonished and begins to believe her. She then offers to help Audrey figure out how to get home.

3. What does Audrey’s agreement to stay calm and not bolt again reveal about her character?

It shows that Audrey is willing to accept help and adapt to her situation, at least temporarily. She recognizes that panicking will not solve her problem, and she trusts Lucy enough to follow her lead. This moment marks a shift from pure panic to a more cooperative mindset, which is essential for the story to progress.