Chapter 27: Summary, Analysis, and Key Takeaways

⚠️ 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

Honey Lovett returns to Troublesome with Doc after visiting her mother in prison. The ride back is marked by the contrast between the prison's stench and the familiar mountain air. Doc offers her a place to stay for the night, but Honey declines, mindful of her book route the next morning. She asks to use his telephone to call her lawyer, Mr. Morgan. During the call, she presses him about her legal situation, specifically whether she can stay in her home and keep her job. Mr. Morgan reassures her that he is working on it, but Honey brings up a newspaper obituary she read about a man named Byrne McDaniel, whose 1909 emancipation case (Rounds Bros. vs. McDaniel) granted him freedom. She tells Mr. Morgan she wants the same—emancipation. Mr. Morgan acknowledges he knows the case and instructs her to keep collecting her pay stubs, promising to research the matter. The call ends before Honey can share details about her prison visit.

Outside, Honey finds her mule Junia eager to leave the barn. Junia sniffs her, seeming to sense something about her mother, though Honey had washed her hands. She rides home through the dark, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.

On Monday, Honey stops at the stone school. Principal Walker greets her warmly, praising the revival of the Pack Horse Library project and mentioning Honey's mother's past work. Honey hands over four books. She hears the second bell and watches the children inside, feeling a pang of longing—she had always wanted to attend a real school, but her parents kept her home, partly because she was “different.” She peeks through a window and sees a girl her age laughing with friends, then ducks away, embarrassed.

Later, Honey visits Emma McCain, a granny woman known for her home remedies and protective charms. Emma gives Honey a lodestone, a smooth black stone she says came from the belly of a white deer, for protection. She mentions she gave one to Honey's mother long ago. Emma laments that people are turning to newfangled frontier nurses instead of traditional healing ways. Honey recalls how Retta, on her deathbed, rejected Emma's herbs in favor of city medicine.

Emma's great-granddaughter Wrenna arrives with her rooster, Tommie. Wrenna is an orphan—her parents and grandparents died in a truck accident. She roams with Tommie, who is fiercely protective of her. Emma explains that Wrenna once threw away a lodestone, and Tommie swallowed it, so the rooster now carries its protective energy. Tommie even roosts on her bedpost at night. Honey watches the bond between the girl and the rooster, remembering her own family's rooster Rudy and his relationship with Junia.

Honey offers Wrenna a book. Emma says Wrenna loves to read but can't attend school because she won't sit still and won't leave Tommie. Honey selects two books for her: The Little White Horse and Twig. She also gives Wrenna a Bit-O-Honey candy bar, which the girl eagerly accepts, offering Honey a horse chestnut and a flower in return. Wrenna sits down to read with Tommie perched on her shoulder.

Honey then rides to the Moores' cabin, hoping to see Francis, but he's not there. Mrs. Moore invites her in and shows her photographs. One picture shows Honey's grandfather Elijah Carter and Mrs. Moore's father Howard outside the Blue Diamond mine. Mrs. Moore gives Honey the photograph, which is the first image Honey has ever seen of her grandfather. She also shows photos of Pack Horse librarians, including her cousin Kelly Ann Moore and friend Laura Adams. Honey is thrilled to have the photograph, noting that her family had no pictures because of the humiliation over their rare color. Mrs. Moore reflects on coal mining's toll, saying it “rips away the men from their women.”

Key Events

Honey returns from prison and calls Mr. Morgan, citing Byrne McDaniel's emancipation case as a precedent for her own freedom.
Mr. Morgan acknowledges the case and tells Honey to keep collecting pay stubs while he researches.
Honey delivers books to the stone school and observes the children, feeling excluded from formal education.
Emma McCain gives Honey a lodestone from a white deer for protection, and they discuss the decline of traditional healing.
Honey meets Wrenna and her rooster Tommie, gives her books and candy, and witnesses their protective bond.
At the Moores' cabin, Honey receives a photograph of her grandfather Elijah Carter, a rare family keepsake.

Character Development

Honey Lovett grows more assertive in pursuing her legal freedom. She directly asks Mr. Morgan for emancipation, referencing a historical case, showing she is researching her options and refusing to accept a passive role. Her longing for education and her empathy for Wrenna highlight her sensitivity to exclusion. She also treasures family heritage, as seen in her emotional reaction to the photograph of her grandfather.
Mr. Morgan demonstrates a willingness to take Honey's request seriously, acknowledging the 1909 case and promising to research it, rather than dismissing her as a female.
Emma McCain represents the fading tradition of granny women. She is generous with her charms and protective of her great-granddaughter, but also wistful about losing customers to modern nurses.
Wrenna is a quiet, wild child who communicates with her rooster and finds comfort in books. Her exchange with Honey shows trust and a shared love of reading.
Mrs. Moore serves as a keeper of memory, sharing photographs and lamenting the human cost of coal mining.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Emancipation and Legal Freedom: Honey's reference to Byrne McDaniel's case underscores her desire for autonomy, paralleling her own struggle against the legal system that treats her as a minor.
Folk Magic and Protection: The lodestone, the white deer, and Tommie's swallowed stone symbolize the community's belief in protective charms and the power of nature.
Traditional Healing vs. Modern Medicine: Emma's lament and Retta's rejection of her remedies highlight the tension between old ways and new medical practices.
Exclusion from Education: Honey's wistful observation of the schoolchildren and Wrenna's inability to attend school reflect the barriers to education for marginalized children.
Family Heritage and Memory: The photograph of Elijah Carter becomes a tangible link to Honey's past, filling a void in her family history.
Coal Mining's Human Cost: Mrs. Moore's comment about coal ripping men from women and leaving widows underscores the industry's toll on families.
Animal Bonds: Junia's sensitivity, Tommie's protectiveness, and the memory of Rudy illustrate the deep connections between humans and animals in the mountains.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter advances Honey's legal quest by introducing a concrete legal precedent—Byrne McDaniel's emancipation case—giving her hope and a strategy. It also deepens her emotional journey as she connects with Wrenna, a child who, like herself, is excluded from school and finds solace in books. The gift of her grandfather's photograph provides a rare piece of family history, reinforcing themes of identity and belonging. The chapter also highlights the cultural shift away from traditional healing, adding a layer of social commentary.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Honey bring up Byrne McDaniel's case to Mr. Morgan, and what does it reveal about her character?

Honey brings up the case because she has read about it in an old newspaper and sees a parallel between McDaniel's emancipation and her own situation. She wants the same legal recognition of her freedom. This reveals her resourcefulness, determination, and growing understanding of the law. She is not passively waiting for others to decide her fate; she is actively seeking precedents to support her claim.

2. How does the encounter with Wrenna and Tommie reflect Honey's own experiences and emotions?

Wrenna is a child who has lost her parents and is kept out of school because of her bond with her rooster and her wild nature. Honey sees herself in Wrenna—both are outsiders, both have experienced loss, and both find comfort in animals and books. Honey's gift of books and candy shows her empathy and desire to connect. The scene also echoes Honey's own longing for education and her understanding of being “different.”

3. What is the significance of the photograph of Elijah Carter that Mrs. Moore gives Honey?

The photograph is the first image Honey has ever seen of her grandfather. It connects her to her family's past and gives her a tangible piece of heritage. Honey suspects her family had no pictures because of the shame over their rare color, so this photograph is especially meaningful. It also ties into the theme of memory and the importance of preserving family history, even in the face of hardship.