Chapter 27 Summary: Beatrice's Chapter, Explained

⚠️ 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 the night after the party. Beatrice lies in bed and hears her parents arguing in their bedroom, their voices rising and falling. She lingers in the hallway, hoping to catch what they are saying, but the only word she can make out is her own name.

On Sunday morning, her father leaves early for work, citing a deposition, and her mother begins cleaning out the pantry—a task Beatrice knows her mother reserves for moments of great unease. Neither parent seems interested in spending time with her or asking about the party. Beatrice decides to start a new taxidermy project. She retrieves a frozen mouse from the back of the freezer, eviscerates it, and carefully separates the pelt from the flesh. She stuffs the skin with cotton and a wire form, sews it shut, and poses the mouse with an arrogant tilt of its head. She fashions a gold cuff from an envelope clasp and a red silk cape. As she works, she fantasizes about Diana, the glamorous woman from the party, taking her under her wing and teaching her to be confident and unbothered.

She leaves the mouse to dry overnight and completes her homework: a math problem set, history reading, and an English essay rewrite. Her mother serves leftover chicken and sourdough for dinner, but her father is still at the office. Her mother retreats to her bedroom without inviting Beatrice to play Scrabble or watch TV. Beatrice takes the opportunity to dye her hair a silvery lavender, a color she is pleased with.

On Monday morning, Cade Langley intercepts her on her way to homeroom. He pulls her into a dark alcove under the staircase. He gives her a wrapped present: a copy of Edward Gorey's The Gashlycrumb Tinies. Beatrice already owns a copy but thanks him. She asks why he has ignored her for a week and then given her a gift. Cade confesses that his original invitation to sit with him at lunch was not sincere—it was a dare from Ian and Ezra, who paid him a hundred dollars to spend the day with her. Beatrice feels an icy shock of shame but is not entirely surprised. She asks how many other girls they have done this to, and Cade admits they do not do it often. She demands to know why they would hurt people who have not hurt them, and Cade says he does not know.

Beatrice turns to leave, but Cade pulls her back and kisses her. At first she feels nothing, but then he cups the back of her neck, and her mouth opens. The kiss becomes intimate, and Beatrice finds herself responding, her hips tilting toward him. When he lets go, she tries to sound nonchalant, saying it was not terrible. She then asks if this means he is her boyfriend, or if they will only meet in secret. Cade swallows but does not answer. Beatrice tells him to come find her when he figures it out and walks away.

At lunch, she sits on a bench outside, waiting for him. She touches her lips and recalls her mother's warning about how powerful physical intimacy can be, and how hard it is not to give your heart to someone who has had access to your body. She waits all through lunch and the rest of the day, hoping Cade will approach her, but he never does.

Key Events

Beatrice overhears her parents arguing; she hears her own name mentioned.
Her father leaves for work on Sunday, and her mother cleans the pantry as a sign of distress.
Beatrice completes a taxidermy mouse dressed in a cape and cuff, imagining Diana as a mentor.
She dyes her hair silvery lavender.
Cade gives Beatrice a copy of The Gashlycrumb Tinies and confesses that his original invitation was a paid dare from Ian and Ezra.
Beatrice confronts Cade about the cruelty of the prank.
Cade kisses Beatrice, and she responds despite her anger.
Beatrice asks if he is her boyfriend; he does not answer.
She waits for him all day, but he never comes.

Character Development

Beatrice shows a mix of vulnerability and growing self-awareness. She is hurt by the revelation that Cade's attention was purchased, but she also recognizes her own susceptibility to his charm. Her anger is directed both at him and at herself for being drawn in. The kiss complicates her emotions: she feels pleasure and power when she realizes she affected him, but she also demands clarity about their relationship. Her decision to wait for him, even after his non-answer, reveals her hope and her struggle to reconcile her desire with her pride. Her taxidermy project and hair color reflect her need for control and self-expression in a household where her parents are distant and arguing.

Cade is portrayed as conflicted and immature. He confesses the dare but cannot explain why he participated. He gives a gift and kisses Beatrice, but when asked to define the relationship, he freezes. His inability to answer shows his fear of commitment and his discomfort with the consequences of his actions.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Betrayal and shame: The dare exposes the social cruelty of Cade and his friends. Beatrice feels shame not only for being targeted but also for her attraction to Cade.
Power dynamics: The kiss gives Beatrice a moment of power—she notes that she made his voice hoarse—but the waiting afterward reverses that power, leaving her vulnerable.
Transformation: Beatrice's hair color and her taxidermy art are acts of self-creation. The mouse, dressed in a cape and posed arrogantly, mirrors her desire to be seen as bold and unbothered.
Waiting: The chapter ends with Beatrice waiting for Cade, a motif that underscores her uncertainty and the imbalance in their relationship.
Parental conflict: The argument between her parents and her mother's pantry-cleaning ritual signal instability at home, which may influence Beatrice's emotional state.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in Beatrice's emotional arc. It reveals the truth behind Cade's initial interest, forcing her to confront the cruelty of the social hierarchy at school. The kiss complicates her feelings, and her demand for a clear answer—and his silence—sets up the central conflict of their relationship. The chapter also deepens the portrait of Beatrice's home life, showing her parents' distance and her own coping mechanisms through art and self-transformation. Her decision to wait for Cade, despite his failure to commit, highlights her vulnerability and sets the stage for her growth in subsequent chapters.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Beatrice react with anger rather than simply walking away when Cade confesses the dare?

Beatrice is angry because she feels humiliated and betrayed. She asks why Ian and Ezra would target people who have not hurt them, and she is also angry at herself for being susceptible to Cade's charm. Her anger is a defense mechanism against the shame she feels, and it drives her to demand an explanation even as she is drawn to him.

2. How does the kiss change the power dynamic between Beatrice and Cade?

Initially, Cade holds power because he initiated the kiss and because he has been dishonest. But Beatrice gains a sense of power when she realizes she affected him—his hoarse voice and swollen lips. However, her subsequent question about being his boyfriend shifts the power back to Cade, as he avoids answering, leaving Beatrice in a position of uncertainty and waiting.

3. What does Beatrice's taxidermy project reveal about her state of mind in this chapter?

The project shows her need for control and precision in a life where she has little control over her parents' conflict or Cade's behavior. The mouse, dressed in a cape and posed arrogantly, reflects her desire to appear confident and unbothered. The act of creating something beautiful from a dead creature also suggests her attempt to find order and meaning in a chaotic emotional landscape.