Summary

This chapter of the novel jumps forward a full year from the fall of Lee’s sophomore year to the fall of her junior year. Lee opens this section by describing the clothing, names and lifestyles of the rich parents of other Ault students. In the dining hall, Maria Oldega asked if Lee’s parents had arrived for parents’ weekend yet. They had not because they were driving but Lee did not want to have to admit that. She listened as Maria and her roommate Rufina Sanchez made fun of Ault and its habit of serving better food during parents’ weekend. Lee believed they could get away with making fun of the school without seeming bitter because they were Latina.

As Lee listened to Rufina laugh she wondered if the girl was really happy. She remembered sitting on the bus next to...