Chapter 17 Summary

Astrid finishes the tenth grade, and she has done incredibly well, considering the circumstances. To celebrate, Ron takes them to Musso and Frank, a famous restaurant, where they see movie stars. Ron introduces Astrid as a friend, which disappoints her, but he's better than Marvel, who wouldn't even have bothered, and Amelia, who starved her. They give her an amethyst pendant. Astrid feels tears coming.

Ron is gone most of the summer. Claire has framed a picture of hers on her bureau, next to one of her and Ron. Nobody has ever done that before. Claire is afraid of many things, even more so than Astrid. "Actors are always superstitious," she says, but one can tell that she's completely serious. Claire believes in numerology.

Claire takes Astrid along on her photo shoot. The photographer suggests taking Astrid's picture as well, but she resists...