Chapter 7 Summary and Analysis: The Thrift Shopping Chapter

⚠️ 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 on Field Trip Day, when campers get their phones back as a supposed demonstration of generosity. Riley uses the opportunity to call Hannah and tell her about Pastor Young's warning that she might become a bad influence. Hannah suggests Riley talk to Julia about it, but Riley admits they don't discuss Pastor Young—the topic has become an unspoken boundary in their friendship. Riley reflects on the secrets she's keeping from Julia: the essay, the conversation with her father, and her fear that if she can't prove Pastor Young wrong, she might lose Julia entirely.

Hannah shifts the conversation to her ballet rehearsal. She's preparing for her last show before graduation and plans to move to California afterward. Riley reassures her that her adagio will be fine and tells her she's proud of her. Hannah encourages Riley to let go of her anger for the week, but Riley admits that's unrealistic for her. She hangs up when Torres calls her to the bus.

On the bus, Riley passes Amanda, who ignores her, and Greer, who watches her longer than usual. She sits with Julia and Ben. Ben jokes that Pastor Young probably still hopes he and Julia can save Riley, which unsettles her—she wonders if Julia's friendship is partly a religious duty. Ben then reveals a secret: he and Julia don't actually go to Walmart on field trips. They sneak to a thrift store across the street. Julia confirms, mentioning that Hannah got her homecoming dress there. Riley feels a pang of exclusion when Julia calls it kind of a camp thing.

The conversation turns to prom. Riley admits she doesn't think Hannah wants to come, worried Hannah will feel left out watching her friends celebrate without her. Ben insists Hannah shouldn't miss her senior prom. Riley's sharp response—she shouldn't have to do a lot of things—makes Julia stiffen, and Riley quickly changes the subject.

Counselor Cindy delivers a lecture on generosity and greed, warning campers to think about what they buy and to reflect on how they can spread God's word. Riley sees the lecture as another attempt at control. She decides to deliberately buy something at the thrift store to commit the sin of greed without getting caught. When the bus arrives, Riley, Julia, and Ben head toward the thrift store together.

Key Events

Riley calls Hannah and shares Pastor Young's bad influence warning
Hannah reveals her last ballet show and plans to move to California
Ben and Julia reveal their secret thrift store tradition
Riley feels excluded by the camp thing comment
The group discusses Hannah's prom plans and Riley's worry she won't attend
Cindy lectures on generosity and greed
Riley decides to deliberately commit greed by buying something

Character Development

Riley – This chapter shows Riley's determination hardening. She's willing to commit a deliberate sin to prove a point, and her motivation is increasingly tied to keeping Julia in her life. She's also keeping more secrets from Julia—the essay, the conversation with Pastor Young, and her fears about their friendship. The camp thing comment reveals her sensitivity to being an outsider.

Hannah – Though only heard on the phone, Hannah is facing a major transition: her last ballet show and a move to California. She encourages Riley to let go of her anger, showing a more mature perspective, but Riley's refusal hints at how deeply she's invested in her plan.

Julia – Julia is part of the thrift store secret, revealing a side of her that rebels in small ways. She's unaware of Riley's inner turmoil and the secrets Riley is keeping. Her camp thing comment, though unintentional, highlights the growing distance between them.

Ben – Ben is excited about the thrift store and his upcoming art camp in New York. He's the one who reveals the secret, and he's also the one who insists Hannah shouldn't miss prom, showing his loyalty to their friend group.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Generosity vs. Greed – Cindy's lecture frames generosity as a path to salvation and greed as a wedge between people and God. Riley's decision to deliberately commit greed is a direct act of rebellion against this framework, turning the sin into a tool of resistance.

Secrets and Surveillance – The thrift store is a secret escape from camp's control. Riley is keeping multiple secrets from Julia, and the unspoken topic of Pastor Young hangs over their friendship. The chapter is full of things left unsaid.

Fear of Losing a Friend – Riley's internal monologue repeatedly returns to her fear of losing Julia. She's willing to tear his congregation apart from the inside if that's what it takes to keep her.

Endings and Transitions – Hannah's last show, her move to California, Ben's art camp, Julia's softball, and Riley's job search all signal the end of their shared summers. Prom becomes a final milestone they're trying to hold onto.

Religious Manipulation – Cindy's lecture is framed as guidance but functions as control, telling campers what to buy and how to think. Riley sees through it and responds with deliberate defiance.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks a turning point in Riley's plan. After Pastor Young's warning, she could have backed off, but instead she doubles down, deciding to commit a deliberate sin as an act of rebellion. The thrift store becomes a symbol of freedom from camp's control, and the camp thing comment reveals the cracks in her friendship with Julia. The chapter also sets up the prom storyline, which will likely become a source of tension as Hannah's departure approaches.

Study Questions

1. Why does Riley decide to deliberately commit the sin of greed, and what does this reveal about her character?

Riley decides to buy something at the thrift store specifically to commit greed after Cindy's lecture. This shows her willingness to rebel against the camp's religious framework, even at personal risk. It also reveals that her motivation is less about the sin itself and more about proving she can't be controlled—and that she's willing to take risks to keep Julia in her life.

2. How does the camp thing comment affect Riley, and what does it reveal about her relationship with Julia?

When Julia calls the thrift store kind of a camp thing, Riley feels a sharp pang of exclusion. The comment reveals that Riley already feels like an outsider at camp, and it highlights the growing distance between her and Julia. Riley doesn't confront Julia about it, instead smoothing over her feelings, which shows how much she's suppressing to maintain their friendship.

3. What role does the thrift store play in the chapter's exploration of secrets and rebellion?

The thrift store is a secret escape from camp's control—a place where Ben and Julia can be themselves without the camp's rules. It's also a symbol of the secrets Riley is keeping from Julia, and it becomes the setting for Riley's deliberate act of rebellion. The store represents a space outside the camp's surveillance, where Riley can act without being caught.