Soul Searching Chapter 10: Collins – 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.

Summary

After the unsettling night at the church—where a ghost momentarily spoke to her before falling silent again—Collins cannot sleep. At dawn she borrows her father’s truck and drives to the remote ranch of Boone, the gruff old man who has been a surrogate grandfather to her and her twin sister. Boone welcomes her with his characteristic tough love, and together they move cattle to a new pasture. The physical work forces Collins to focus on the present and temporarily escape her turmoil. Over the course of the day, Boone scolds her for not telling anyone about her car breakdown on the mountain road and reminds her to be careful. Riding back to the barn, Collins feels a rare moment of peace, grateful for a place where ghosts seldom appear and where she can simply breathe.

Key Events

Collins spends the night pacing and hoping a ghost will appear; none do.
She drives to Boone’s property early in the morning, passing his warning signs and open gates.
Boone’s animal crew—Lady, Tank, Chicken Soup, Pig, and a new one‑eared dog named Phillips Screwdriver (Phil)—greet her.
Collins embraces Boone, who grumbles but accepts.
Boone reveals he already knew about her broken‑down car via a panicked call from Clarke.
They ride out to move cattle; Collins loses focus for a moment and lets four cows stray.
Boone dismounts stiffly, mentioning his bad knee and shoulder, and refuses to see a doctor.
Boone chastises Collins for driving the Peak road without telling anyone where she was going.
The chapter ends with Collins riding back in silence, taking in the landscape and feeling calmer.

Character Development

Collins Cartwright

Collins is shown in a deeply vulnerable state. Her insomnia and the loss of her usual ghostly communication leave her feeling disconnected from her identity. She craves physical contact (the memory of Brady’s arms) but also resists emotional entanglement. Her visit to Boone reveals a different side: she is capable of showing affection (the hug) and longs for the unchanging, safe environment Boone provides. The chapter also revisits how her childhood ability to command ghosts led to incidents (the volleyball game, Emmett Papadakis’s broken nose), shaped her isolation from community activities, and pushed her toward Boone’s ranch as a refuge.

Boone

Boone is the embodiment of “found family.” His gruffness masks deep care: he keeps the gates open for Collins, he already knew about her car trouble, and he scolds her only out of concern. His stubborn refusal to see a doctor mirrors Collins’s own avoidance of her problems. The chapter deepens his role as a steady, grounding presence—someone whose love is shown through actions rather than words.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Isolation and Connection

Collins is cut off from her ghosts and from easy human intimacy. Boone’s ranch offers a rare space where she feels neither exposed nor overwhelmed. The silence of the ghostly realm amplifies her loneliness, while the physical work of cattle moving provides a temporary salve.

Found Family

Boone is not blood‑related but has been a consistent caregiver since Collins and Clarke were children. His warnings and teasing are his way of showing he cares. The contrast between the judgmental church community and Boone’s blunt acceptance highlights the importance of chosen bonds.

The Burden of a Supernatural Gift

Collins’s ability to command ghosts has caused real harm in the past (the volleyball incident, Emmett’s nose). The ghosts’ sudden silence leaves her questioning her purpose. Boone’s property, where only animal spirits occasionally appear, becomes a sanctuary from that burden.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point for Collins’s emotional arc. It shows her seeking comfort in the familiar rhythms of ranch life and in Boone’s unwavering presence. It also deepens our understanding of her childhood experiences with ghosts and how they fostered her sense of being an outsider. The unresolved tension with Brady remains in the background, but the focus here is on Collins’s need for stability and her tentative steps toward healing on her own terms.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Collins say she “could’ve stayed there all night” in the church? What does that reveal about her state of mind?
Collins is starved for positive physical touch and emotional safety. Being held by Brady in the dark, quiet church momentarily relieved her anxiety and made her feel protected—something she hasn’t felt in months. The fact that she contemplates staying shows how isolated she feels in her normal life.
How does Boone’s method of discipline differ from what Collins might receive from her parents?
Boone uses sarcasm and blunt lectures (“Pretty shitty of you to not let anyone know…”), but he never shames her for her abilities. He treats her as capable of making better choices, which Collins respects more than a lecture. His approach is firm but rooted in genuine worry, unlike the protective but sometimes overbearing concern of her parents.
What does the flashback to the volleyball incident tell us about Collins and Clarke’s childhood?
It shows that Collins’s ghosts would act on her spoken commands, leading to accidents. Clarke tried to shield her but was also dragged down by association. The incident forced them into a “package deal” of exclusion, strengthening their bond but also isolating Collins from typical social experiences. It foreshadows how Collins’s abilities continue to complicate her adult life.