Chapter 13 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

Stevie returns to Sunny Pines after another hot, sweaty bike ride, grateful that her dark T-shirts hide the sweat stains. The camp is nearly empty—most counselors and campers are out on a hike around the lake. She showers in her cabin, then heads to the art pavilion, where Janelle is busy organizing supplies and hanging a mobile. Janelle has transformed the rough space into a cheerful crafting area, complete with sample projects and neatly arranged materials.

While chatting, Janelle mentions that she found an old box of paperwork in the back office. She pulls out a faded pink supply order form dated June 20, 1978, requested by Sabrina Abbott. The list includes paints, brushes, ceramics, and string—a modest order totaling $156. Stevie immediately thinks Allison would want it, and Janelle agrees.

Stevie then tells Janelle about her visit to Allison’s house, describing it as a “museum” of Sabrina’s belongings. Allison kept everything—brushes, slips of paper, all of it. Stevie understands why Allison desperately wants the diary, and she decides to focus on retrieving it. She recalls that at Ellingham, she once found a hidden diary in a wall, so she’s hopeful she can do the same here.

With everyone away on the hike, Stevie sees a perfect opportunity to search the old Sparrow bunk, which is now the Pandas bunk. She pulls up Carson’s digital files, compares the 1978 camp map to the current one, and locates the cabin. She enters the Pandas bunk, which is larger than her own, with eight beds and a back room separated by a plywood wall and a green curtain. She carefully searches the walls, cubbies, and floor, knocking on the wooden planks to check for hidden compartments. Nothing gives.

As she’s crawling on the floor, a redheaded counselor walks in, phone in hand, and catches her. Stevie stumbles through a lie about having lost a key earlier. The counselor is skeptical but can’t figure out why Stevie would be lying. Stevie leaves as casually as she can, feeling the girl’s eyes on her back.

Embarrassed, Stevie skips lunch to avoid running into the redheaded girl. She texts Janelle to bring food to her cabin. While waiting, she reviews the case files, focusing on Diane McClure, the least-documented victim. Diane was a middling student, a Led Zeppelin fan, and Todd Cooper’s girlfriend. The file includes a description of her as a “badass” who likely fought hard. Stevie then examines the injury diagrams: Todd, Diane, and Eric all had head wounds, while Sabrina had defensive marks but no head wound. This pattern makes Sabrina stand out again—she wasn’t struck on the head, perhaps because she was seen as less threatening. Stevie is struck by how Sabrina remains the odd one out.

Janelle and Nate arrive with a hot dog and a Coke. Stevie warns them she’s not going to be popular, but her friends don’t seem surprised.

Key Events

Stevie returns to camp, showers, and meets Janelle at the art pavilion.
Janelle discovers an old supply order form from Sabrina Abbott dated June 20, 1978.
Stevie decides to focus on finding Sabrina’s diary for Allison, recalling her success at Ellingham.
With everyone on a hike, Stevie locates the old Sparrow bunk (now Pandas) and searches it for hidden compartments, finding nothing.
A redheaded counselor catches Stevie; she lies about losing a key and leaves.
Stevie skips lunch and texts Janelle to bring food.
She reviews Diane McClure’s case file and notes the injury pattern: Todd, Diane, and Eric had head wounds; Sabrina had defensive marks but no head wound.
Janelle and Nate arrive with food, and Stevie warns them she’s not popular.

Character Development

Stevie shows her determination and resourcefulness. She’s willing to take risks—sneaking into another bunk—to help Allison, even though she admits the diary is a long shot. Her lie to the counselor is clumsy, revealing her discomfort with deception. More importantly, her analysis of the injury patterns shows her sharp investigative mind. She notices that Sabrina is consistently the outlier, which deepens her curiosity about the case.

Janelle continues to be a supportive and practical friend. She’s organized, having brought a laundry basket and transformed the art pavilion. She also spots the supply order form and immediately thinks of Allison, showing her empathy.

Nate appears briefly, arriving with Janelle and food. His presence is low-key, but it reinforces the trio’s camaraderie.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Grief and Keepsakes: Allison’s “museum” of Sabrina’s belongings—brushes, slips of paper—shows how grief can manifest in preserving every trace of a lost loved one. The supply order form is another keepsake, a tangible link to Sabrina’s life. Stevie’s decision to retrieve the diary is driven by this emotional need, not just the case.

Past Versus Present: The chapter contrasts the 1978 camp with the current one. The old map, the faded supply form, and the renamed bunks highlight how time has changed the physical space, yet the past still lingers. Stevie’s search for hidden compartments suggests that secrets from the past might still be buried.

Overlooked Victim: Diane McClure is described as the least-documented victim—not as “bad” as Todd, not as “good” as Sabrina, just “there.” This theme emphasizes how some victims are forgotten or overshadowed, and Stevie’s attention to Diane’s file shows her commitment to understanding all the victims.

Murder Pattern: The injury analysis reveals a pattern: three victims had head wounds, while Sabrina did not. This pattern suggests a method or a reason for the killer’s choices, and it makes Sabrina stand out as an anomaly.

Camp Atmosphere: The empty camp, the heat, and the quiet create a sense of isolation and suspense. Stevie’s sneaking around feels more dangerous because the camp is so still.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter advances the plot by setting Stevie on a concrete mission: find Sabrina’s diary. It also deepens the mystery by introducing a key piece of evidence—the injury pattern—that points to Sabrina as an outlier. The failed search of the Pandas bunk adds tension and shows that Stevie’s investigation isn’t going to be easy. Additionally, the chapter humanizes Diane McClure, reminding readers that every victim deserves attention. Stevie’s decision to prioritize Allison’s emotional need over the case’s practical outcome shows her compassion, making her a more relatable protagonist.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Stevie decide to focus on finding Sabrina’s diary, even though she admits it’s a long shot?

Stevie is moved by Allison’s grief. Allison has kept everything of Sabrina’s—brushes, slips of paper—and clearly treasures any remnant. Stevie understands that the diary would mean the world to Allison, and she also recalls that she successfully found a hidden diary at Ellingham, so she believes it’s possible. Her decision reflects her empathy and her desire to give Allison some closure, even if it doesn’t directly solve the case.

2. What does the injury pattern reveal about the murders, and how does it make Sabrina stand out?

The files show that Todd, Diane, and Eric all had head wounds, while Sabrina had defensive marks on her hands but no head wound. This suggests the killer struck the other three to incapacitate them, but didn’t do the same to Sabrina. Stevie theorizes that Sabrina might have been seen as less threatening, so the killer didn’t feel the need to hit her. This makes Sabrina the odd one out, reinforcing her unique role in the case.

3. How does Stevie’s encounter with the redheaded counselor affect her actions afterward?

The encounter rattles Stevie. She gives a weak excuse about losing a key, and she feels the counselor’s suspicious gaze. As a result, she skips lunch to avoid running into the girl again, choosing to hide in her cabin instead. This shows that Stevie is not entirely comfortable with the sneaking around, and it adds a layer of risk to her investigation.