Chapter 28 (“Twenty-seven”): Summary, Analysis, and Key Themes

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The chapter is titled “Twenty-seven” and is the twenty-eighth chapter of the book.

It continues Civil’s efforts to secure a stable future for India and to support the lawsuit against Mrs. Seager.

The chapter also deepens our understanding of Civil’s past and her motivations.

Let’s dive in.

Summary

The chapter opens with Civil and India arriving at an 8 a.m. appointment at a school located in the basement of St. Jude hospital.

India is dressed early, eager to get out after two months at home.

They are met by Sister LaTarsha, a Black nun, which surprises Civil.

Sister LaTarsha shows them around the facility: four classrooms, staff offices, an outdoor play yard, but no gym or cafeteria—children eat in their classrooms.

The school serves fifty-five students with various needs, and Sister LaTarsha explains that they don’t separate students the way standard schools do; instead, they group them by temperament, ability, and developmental goals.

The aim is to train them to become functional adults, which might mean learning fine motor skills, speech therapy, or basic life skills like sharing or brushing teeth.

Sister LaTarsha works with India on a color-matching puzzle.

India places the pegs in the wrong holes at first, but Sister LaTarsha praises her for inserting them without trouble.

She demonstrates the correct matching, and after six or seven attempts, India finally gets it right.

Civil is overjoyed.

Sister LaTarsha then shows India foam building blocks, and India plays with them enthusiastically.

Civil notes that India has never had good toys like these.

Sister LaTarsha tells Civil that India wants to please her, and that she hopes to gain India’s trust the way Civil has.

Civil is moved, thinking about how the girls trusted her and how that haunts her.

Civil asks how long students stay at the school, explaining that she wants stability for India.

Sister LaTarsha says it depends on the child, and mentions that India’s test results were good.

She also warns that truancy is a problem—if India doesn’t come regularly, she will lose her spot.

Since Civil is not India’s legal guardian, the family must come in person to sign documents.

Civil offers to be present to read and explain the documents, noting that Mace and Mrs. Williams are not literate.

Sister LaTarsha reassures her that the school has seen everything in its twenty-six years.

She then asks about the case, and Civil says Lou Feldman is committed.

Sister LaTarsha offers advice: “Sometimes love can kill you, just like hate.”

She warns Civil not to lose herself in others’ sorrow.

Civil is struck by the idea that a nun would tell her she could love too hard.

India builds a pyramid of blocks that teeters and falls, and the scene ends.

The next scene shifts to Lou’s office, which sits above a restaurant, with grease smells and takeout containers.

Civil tells Lou that Mrs. Seager fired her via a letter delivered Monday morning.

Lou apologizes, and Civil offers to help as a paralegal.

Lou initially jokes about having a dozen lawyers, but then admits he’s alone.

Civil says she used to help her father organize his office and is good at filing.

Lou shows her the complaint.

It describes how Mrs. Seager and another nurse went to the girls’ house and obtained signed permission from Mace and Mrs. Williams, with Val as the witness.

Mace and Mrs. Williams signed with an X.

Civil realizes that Val played a role, and she suspects Alicia told Mrs. Seager about the move to Dixie Court and the change in birth control.

Alicia hasn’t called since Civil was fired.

Civil asks Lou why he took the case.

Lou says, “Not all white people in Montgomery hate Black people.”

Civil then tells him a story from 1963, when she was thirteen.

That year, George Wallace was elected governor, students were hosed in Birmingham, and President Kennedy was assassinated.

One night, someone knocked on their door.

Three of her father’s friends carried a beaten white woman into their living room.

Her father treated her—stitching her scalp, applying ice, and ointment—even though doing so put their lives at risk.

The men argued about the danger, but her father did what he could.

Civil tells Lou that the risk he’s taking is real, and that Montgomery has come a long way but race relations are still tense.

Lou reassures her that she can trust him.

Civil reflects that Lou still believes in the goodness of the world, while she lost her faith when she found the girls wailing in the hospital.

She longs to believe again, and she sees Lou’s optimism as a powerful force in the girls’ corner.

Key Events

• Civil and India visit the school at St. Jude hospital and meet Sister LaTarsha, a Black nun.

• Sister LaTarsha explains the school’s approach to educating fifty-five students with various needs.

• India successfully completes a color-matching puzzle after several attempts, showing progress.

• Sister LaTarsha warns about truancy and the need for family members to sign documents in person.

• Civil offers to help read documents to Mace and Mrs. Williams, who are not literate.

• Sister LaTarsha advises Civil to be careful, saying love can kill like hate.

• Civil visits Lou’s office and tells him she was fired by Mrs. Seager via letter.

• Civil offers to work as Lou’s paralegal, and he accepts.

• Lou shows Civil the complaint, which details how Mace and Mrs. Williams signed with an X and Val witnessed.

• Civil suspects Alicia informed Mrs. Seager about the move and the birth control change.

• Civil asks Lou why he took the case; he says not all white people hate Black people.

• Civil recounts the 1963 incident when her father treated a beaten white woman, risking his life.

• Lou reassures Civil that she can trust him.

Character Development

Civil is the central figure here.

She is proactive, taking India to the school and immediately thinking about stability.

She is also vulnerable: she admits she lost her faith after seeing the girls in the hospital, and she longs to believe again.

Her offer to work as a paralegal shows her commitment to the case, even after being fired.

She is also haunted by the past, as seen in her reaction to Sister LaTarsha’s comment about trust.

India shows growth and eagerness.

She is dressed early, ready to go, and she engages with the puzzle and blocks.

Her success with the puzzle, after repeated attempts, demonstrates her ability to learn with patience.

Sister LaTarsha notes that India wants to please Civil, indicating a deepening bond.

Sister LaTarsha is a new character who brings wisdom and a different perspective.

She is patient, observant, and direct.

Her advice about love and self-care adds a spiritual dimension to the chapter.

She also represents Black religious leadership, challenging Civil’s assumptions.

Lou Feldman is shown as committed and optimistic.

He jokes about having a dozen lawyers, but he is actually working alone.

He reassures Civil of his trustworthiness, and his belief in the goodness of the world contrasts with Civil’s lost faith.

Alicia is not present but is implicated as a betrayer.

Civil’s suspicion that Alicia told Mrs. Seager about the move and the birth control change adds a layer of personal betrayal.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Patience and Teaching: Sister LaTarsha’s method with India—repeating the puzzle exercise without frustration—highlights the theme of patient, individualized education.

The school’s philosophy of training children to be functional adults underscores the importance of meeting each child where they are.

Love and Self-Sacrifice: Sister LaTarsha’s warning that “love can kill you” echoes Civil’s own experience.

Civil’s father risked his life to help a white woman, and Civil is risking her career and safety to help the Williams girls.

The chapter explores the fine line between love and self-destruction.

Betrayal: The complaint reveals that Val witnessed the signing, and Civil suspects Alicia informed Mrs. Seager.

Betrayal comes from within the community, making it more painful.

Risk of Activism: Civil’s story about 1963 and her warning to Lou about the consequences of his involvement emphasize the real dangers of fighting for justice.

Lou’s optimism is contrasted with Civil’s realism.

Race Relations: The chapter directly addresses racial tensions in Montgomery.

Lou’s statement that not all white people hate Black people is met with Civil’s nuanced response.

The 1963 story illustrates the historical context of racial violence and the courage required to act.

Optimism vs. Lost Faith: Civil has lost her faith, while Lou still believes in goodness.

This contrast is central to the chapter’s emotional arc.

Stability for Children: Civil’s desire for India to have a stable school environment reflects her broader concern for the girls’ well-being.

The truancy rule and the need for guardians to sign documents highlight the fragility of that stability.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter advances the plot by establishing India’s new school and the practical challenges of enrollment.

It also deepens the legal case by revealing the details of the complaint and Civil’s firing.

The chapter develops Civil’s character through her interactions with Sister LaTarsha and Lou, and it introduces the theme of betrayal through Alicia.

The 1963 story provides crucial backstory for Civil’s motivations and her father’s influence.

The chapter also sets up future conflicts: Civil’s role as a paralegal, the ongoing lawsuit, and the potential fallout from Alicia’s betrayal.

Sister LaTarsha’s advice foreshadows the emotional toll the case will take on Civil.

Overall, this chapter is a turning point that combines personal, legal, and historical threads.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Civil react so strongly to Sister LaTarsha’s comment that India wants to please her?

Civil is moved because she is reminded of how the Williams girls trusted her, and that trust now haunts her.

She feels responsible for their suffering, and Sister LaTarsha’s observation makes her confront that guilt.

It also reinforces her commitment to India, as she wants to live up to that trust.

1. What does the 1963 story reveal about Civil’s father and his influence on her?

The story shows that Civil’s father was willing to risk his life to help a stranger, even a white woman, during a time of intense racial violence.

This act of compassion and courage likely shaped Civil’s own willingness to fight for the Williams girls.

It also explains her awareness of the dangers of activism, as she saw her father put himself in harm’s way.

1. How does the chapter contrast Civil’s and Lou’s outlooks on the case?

Lou is optimistic, believing that not all white people hate Black people and that the case is worth pursuing.

Civil is more cynical, having lost her faith after seeing the girls’ suffering.

She warns Lou about the real consequences, but she also longs to believe again.

This contrast highlights the emotional burden of activism and the need for hope.

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