Chapter 28: Eight Years Earlier – The Stolen Test

⚠️ 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 (Complete and Chronological)

Chapter 28 is a flashback set eight years before the main events of the novel. The first-person narrator (Amy) describes her intense dislike for her math teacher, Mr. Riordan. She finds his personal hygiene offensive, describing a “moldy cheese” smell that emanates from him, and she is also disturbed by his visible combover. More importantly, she resents his poor teaching: he explains concepts in a monotone that bores the class, then yells when students become restless. His tests are notoriously difficult.

The class is taking an exam, and as Mr. Riordan distributes the papers, he realizes he has one extra test. He asks if anyone received two copies, and the students shake their heads. Amy and her friend Jade exchange a knowing look, because the missing test is actually in the trash can in Amy’s bedroom. They have stolen it. Mr. Riordan eventually gives the last test to a student, looking troubled, but he has no inkling of the truth. The chapter ends with Amy’s silent assurance that he will never discover what happened.

Key Events

Amy describes her hatred for Mr. Riordan, citing his smell, his combover, and his ineffective teaching.
Mr. Riordan begins passing out exams for a notoriously difficult test.
He notices he has one extra test paper and asks the class if anyone has two; no one claims it.
The reader learns that Amy and Jade have stolen the extra test paper, and it now lies in Amy’s bedroom trash.
Mr. Riordan reluctantly gives the last test to the final student, but he remains suspicious.
Amy silently resolves that Mr. Riordan will never know the truth.

Character Development

Amy (the protagonist): This flashback reveals a young Amy who is willing to steal a test to gain an advantage. She is not portrayed as malicious but as a frustrated student who resorts to cheating. The secret she shares with Jade deepens their bond and foreshadows later choices.
Jade: Amy’s friend, complicit in the theft. Their silent communication indicates a close, conspiratorial relationship. Jade’s role in this childhood memory is minor but suggests she encourages or supports Amy’s risky behavior.
Mr. Riordan: A disliked authority figure. He is both physically repulsive (bad smell, combover) and pedagogically inadequate. His position as a gatekeeper of grades makes him a natural target for rebellion. He is perceptive enough to suspect something amiss but ultimately powerless.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Secrecy and Guilt: The stolen exam is a shared secret between Amy and Jade, setting up a pattern of hiding wrongdoing. The memory resurfaces in Ward D, implying that past secrets never truly vanish.
Authority and Resentment: Mr. Riordan embodies the flawed authority figure. Amy’s hatred of him justifies her cheating in her own mind, reflecting a theme of rebellion against unjust systems.
The Weight of Small Crimes: Stealing a test may seem minor, but the narrative treats it as a pivotal moral failing that haunts Amy. It introduces the motif that small dishonesties can have larger consequences.
Flashback Structure: The sudden shift to eight years earlier creates a temporal break, suggesting that Amy’s current crisis is rooted in her past. This technique builds suspense by linking past and present.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 28 provides crucial backstory that humanizes Amy and explains her capacity for deception. It shows that even as a teenager, she was willing to cheat and lie when she felt justified. The stolen test is a concrete example of a secret she has carried for years, which may parallel larger secrets revealed later in the novel. The flashback also deepens the mystery of Amy’s time at Ward D by showing that her moral compass has always been flexible. Finally, it reinforces the theme that the past is never truly buried, as the reader waits to see how this childhood incident connects to the present-day thriller.

Study Questions and Answers

Q: Why does Amy dislike Mr. Riordan? Give two specific reasons from the chapter.
A: Amy dislikes Mr. Riordan because he emits a “moldy cheese” smell that she finds repulsive, and because he is bad at explaining math—he speaks in a monotone and only yells when the class grows restless. Additionally, his combover is visually off-putting, and his tests are extremely difficult.
Q: What happens to the extra test paper, and how does the class react?
A: The extra test paper is stolen by Amy and hidden in her bedroom garbage. When Mr. Riordan asks if anyone received two copies, all twenty-two students deny it, and Jade and Amy exchange a knowing look. Mr. Riordan eventually gives the last test to a student, but he remains troubled.
Q: What does this flashback suggest about Amy’s character in the present timeline?
A: The flashback suggests that Amy has a history of justifying unethical actions when she feels trapped or resentful. It implies that she is capable of keeping significant secrets and that her present behavior in Ward D may be influenced by patterns established in her youth. The stolen test foreshadows a willingness to cross moral lines under pressure.