Chapter 4 Summary, Key Events, and Study Notes

⚠️ 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

Chapter 4 opens with Jake describing his daily schedule. He shares four periods and lunch with Jenna, but his first three periods—math, social studies, and history—are spent without her. Once he steps off the bus, he is essentially on his own for those hours. Math class is his least favorite way to start the day, though Mr. Foley is an okay teacher and a friend of Jake's mom, so he can't be too harsh. Still, Jake often zones out, and Mr. Foley frequently calls him back to attention.

During one such moment, Jake realizes he has been staring at Brett Miller—specifically at the back of Brett's head. Brett's golden hair reflects the classroom lights, and his tan skin suggests the family's winter trips to Florida. Jake's mind wanders to Brett's mother, the mayor, and her tight control over the village. He recalls how she ordered everyone to remove political signs before the last presidential election, and how she once cut him off mid-presentation when he was addressing the town council about a recycling program. Because of Brett and Jenna's unspoken academic rivalry, Jake doesn't know if Brett shares his mother's views, and he decides to keep some distance.

After the math worksheet is turned in and the bell rings, Ashley approaches Jake. She shows him a pride flag pin she bought at Columbus Pride, explaining that she had always felt weird about putting it on her bag. But now, seeing Jake's flag, she decides to change that. She pins the flag to her bag and says that if Jake can display pride, so can she. She leaves quickly, and Jake is caught off guard. He feels a warm sensation but also a private uncertainty—he isn't sure he has all the pride Ashley assumes he has.

Later, as Jake heads to his locker, Brett intercepts him. Brett asks if they can talk, but not on the bus, because he doesn't want people to overhear. He says it's about the flag and that it's important. Jake feels a wave of anxiety, given the mayor's history of suppressing discourse, but he agrees. He suggests the utility room before the pep rally, where he and Jenna paint their faces. Brett grimaces at the mention of Jenna, noting that she doesn't seem to like him. Jake reassures him it won't be a problem, and Brett leaves.

Alone, Jake mentally reviews the timeline: his dad raised a huge pride flag without consulting anyone, the mayor is unhappy about it, and now the mayor's son wants to talk. Jake wonders if Brett will ask him to take the flag down, or if the mayor sent him. He also considers the possibility that Brett was looking at the flag with disgust, or with simple curiosity, or maybe something more.

Key Events

Jake's first three periods (math, social studies, history) are spent without Jenna, leaving him alone.
In math class, Mr. Foley catches Jake daydreaming while staring at Brett Miller.
Jake reflects on Mayor Miller's strict control over the village, including removing political signs and cutting him off during a town council presentation.
Ashley shows Jake a pride flag pin from Columbus Pride and pins it to her bag, saying that if Jake can display pride, so can she.
Jake feels encouraged but privately uncertain about his own level of pride.
Brett intercepts Jake at his locker and asks to talk privately about the flag.
Jake suggests the utility room before the pep rally, where he and Jenna paint faces.
Brett hesitates about Jenna's presence, noting she doesn't seem to like him.
Jake agrees anyway and mentally reviews the situation, wondering about Brett's intentions.

Character Development

Jake continues to grapple with his identity. He is outwardly supportive of the flag his dad raised, but internally he admits he isn't sure he has all the pride Ashley assumes. His daydream about Brett complicates his feelings—he wonders why he is looking at Brett at all, and he is aware of the mayor's disapproval. Jake's decision to let Brett talk to him, despite his anxiety, shows a willingness to hear someone out even when trust is uncertain. He also shows loyalty to Jenna by including her in the meeting, even though Brett would prefer to talk alone.

Ashley emerges as a quiet ally. Her act of pinning the pride flag to her bag is a public statement of solidarity, inspired by Jake's own display. She doesn't wait for a response, which suggests she is acting on her own conviction rather than seeking validation. Her comment that "if you can do it, so can I" frames Jake as a brave example, even though Jake doesn't feel that way about himself.

Brett remains an enigma. He approaches Jake with a confident pose but asks for privacy, indicating the topic is sensitive. His grimace at Jenna's name and his observation that she doesn't like him reveal an awareness of the rivalry between them. His request to talk about the flag could be a threat, a warning, or something entirely different—Jake is left to speculate.

Mayor Miller is not present but looms over the chapter. Her past actions—removing political signs and cutting off Jake's presentation—establish her as someone who suppresses discourse. Her influence shapes Jake's anxiety about Brett's request, and her disapproval of the flag is the backdrop for the entire conversation.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The Pride Flag as Symbol: The flag is more than a piece of cloth; it represents visibility, identity, and the courage to be public. Jake's dad raised it without consultation, making it a bold statement. Ashley's pin mirrors that statement, showing how symbols can inspire others.
Questioning Identity: Jake is unsure if he deserves the label of "pride." He feels warm when Ashley pins her flag, but he also admits he doesn't know if he has that same confidence. This internal conflict is central to his character arc.
Small-Town Politics: The mayor's control over the village—removing signs, cutting off speakers—illustrates how local power can stifle dissent. Jake's fear that Brett might be acting on his mother's behalf reflects the reach of that power.
Suppression of Discourse: The mayor's dislike of "discourse" is a recurring motif. Jake's anxiety about the upcoming conversation is rooted in the idea that talking about the flag might be dangerous or unwelcome.
Courage and Solidarity: Ashley's decision to pin her flag is an act of courage, inspired by Jake. It shows how one person's visibility can embolden others, even if the first person doesn't feel brave.
Anxiety over Backlash: Jake's mental timeline—dad raises flag, mayor unhappy, mayor's son wants to talk—creates a sense of impending conflict. The chapter captures the fear of consequences that often accompanies public acts of identity.
Rivalry: The unspoken academic feud between Brett and Jenna adds tension. Brett's hesitation about Jenna's presence highlights the existing social divisions, and Jake's decision to include her anyway shows his loyalty.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 4 sets the stage for a pivotal confrontation. It deepens Jake's internal conflict about his identity, showing that his public support for the flag is not matched by private certainty. Ashley's act of solidarity introduces a new ally and demonstrates the ripple effect of Jake's family's decision. Brett's request to talk creates suspense—readers are left wondering whether he will ask Jake to take the flag down, deliver a warning from the mayor, or reveal something more personal. The chapter also reinforces the theme of small-town politics, showing how the mayor's influence reaches into Jake's daily life and even into his interactions with her son. By ending with Jake's speculation about Brett's motives, the chapter propels the narrative forward and raises the stakes for the next meeting.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Jake feel uncertain about his own pride, even after Ashley's supportive gesture?

Jake is caught off guard by Ashley's assumption that he has all this pride. He admits to himself that he is still unsure, that he really doesn't feel that way. The warm feeling he gets from her pin is genuine, but it doesn't erase his doubt. This uncertainty is a key part of his character—he is publicly associated with the flag because of his dad's action, but he hasn't fully claimed that identity for himself.

2. How does Mayor Miller's past behavior influence Jake's reaction to Brett's request?

Jake remembers that the mayor ordered political signs removed and cut him off during a town council presentation. These experiences teach him that the mayor dislikes discourse and controls the village tightly. When Brett asks to talk about the flag, Jake immediately worries that Brett might be acting on his mother's behalf, possibly to ask him to take the flag down. This history makes Jake anxious and cautious about the upcoming conversation.

3. What does Ashley's decision to pin the pride flag to her bag reveal about the impact of Jake's family's flag?

Ashley's action shows that Jake's dad's flag has a visible effect on others. She had been holding onto the pin, feeling weird about displaying it, but seeing Jake's flag gives her the courage to do so. Her comment that "if you can do it, so can I" frames Jake as a brave example, even though Jake doesn't feel that way. This moment demonstrates how public acts of identity can inspire solidarity and embolden others in a community.