Chapter 17 Summary

"TODAY IS AN UNSCHEDULED HOLIDAY," was the announcement from the speaker one morning. Everyone rejoiced, no school for the kids meant they could play.

Jonas could see colors now and keep them. He had seen oceans, mountains, and canyons. These were things no one in the community had dreamed of. While out in the field playing with Asher and his friends, Jonas realized that they were playing war games. Jonas asked them to stop playing. He understood the pain of war. The other children were irritated when Jonas wouldn't join in the play.

Jonas understood more clearly that his friends and family didn't understand what real emotion was. They experienced only a pale shadow. Back at the house Lily started a conversation on babies. They talked about Gabriel, and the twins who still hadn't been born.

Chapter 17 Analysis

Again, Jonas is forced to...