Summary

In Chapter 11, Maxine began spending more time in the school library. One day, she found a book on Jamaica for a project she was doing for Mrs. Dutton’s class. Reading about the country’s history upset her. Realizing she was descended from enslaved people, she felt ashamed.

Maxine worked hard on her Jamaica project. Cleo was pleased by it, and Mrs. Dutton gave Maxine a 99.99%. Shortly thereafter, the school held a musical production and awards ceremony for the middle school graduates. Maxine thought that her crush and friend Lewis Stevens would be valedictorian, but she received the honor. That night, she lay in bed with the book she had gotten as an award. However, the way the writer represented the “Aboriginal characters” upset her and she threw the book across the room (123).

In Chapter 12, Maxine felt different the summer after she graduated...