Bystander

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2009

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-6

Chapters 7-12

Chapters 13-18

Chapters 19-25

Chapters 26-30

Chapters 31-34

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Chapters 31-34Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 31 Summary: “Even”

Eric calls Griffin and asks if they can talk the next day—which he only does to confirm the latter’s absence. Griffin confirms his and Cody’s outing, and Eric says that what he has to say can wait. Griffin insists that Eric tell him why he called, and the latter says he won’t steal from Mrs. Rosen.

Eric also says he knows about the break-ins and that Griffin should stop before he gets caught. Griffin replies “Nope, I don’t think so” (202), which confirms Eric’s suspicions about the burglaries in the community (mentioned by Officer Goldsworthy).

With Mary’s help, Eric devises a plan to break into Griffin’s house and retrieve his CD and the money stolen from his brother. They confirm the driveway is empty, and Eric slips into the house through an open back door (mentioned by Griffin).

As Eric walks up the steps to Griffin’s room, he hears a loud snore and realizes that Griffin’s father is in the house. Eric steps into Griffin’s room and takes off his sneakers to avoid making noise. He finds Griffin’s souvenir collection and retrieves his stolen items. He writes “NOW WE’RE EVEN” (208) on a piece of paper and places it in the box. As he is about to leave, Eric notices the snoring has stopped. He hears a toilet flush followed by Griffin’s father walking downstairs.

Chapter 32 Summary: “Door”

Eric hears Griffin’s father turn on the TV and open a refrigerator door. He decides to quickly walk down the stairs and out the front door. He makes it to the door, but the outer screen door is locked. He finds the device to unlock the door and escapes. When Eric rejoins Mary, he realizes that he left his sneakers behind.

Chapter 33 Summary: “Kicks”

Griffin passes Eric in the cafeteria and doesn’t say a word. However, he is wearing Eric’s sneakers. Eric notices an empty chair at Griffin’s table—that of a recently shunned David Hallenback. He notices Hallenback wearing a pin shaped like a baseball stadium. Eric asks him about the pin, and he says it’s from the Mets’ stadium. Hallenback claims he lent it to someone who finally returned it and glances at Griffin.

At recess, Eric plays basketball with Pat and Hakeem. Pat asks Eric if he is going to try out for the modified team, as open gym starts next week and then tryouts in another two weeks. Eric tells Pat that it sounds like a good idea. He shoots and makes the shot.

Chapter 34 Summary: “Coda”

Eric makes the basketball team, being one of only two seventh graders to have done so.

Griffin is no longer a part of Eric’s life: “They never talked anymore, never spoke of Eric’s theft, or Griffin’s new sneakers. It was like they made a silent pact. Somehow it was all wiped clean, like chalk from a blackboard” (221).

One day, Eric sees Griffin with a completely new group of friends. Alexis Brown, the girl who perpetrated Chantel Williams’s cyberbullying, is by Griffin’s side. Eric thinks they make a perfect couple.

On a similar note, Eric thinks he may experience his first girlfriend and dreams of scoring winning baskets while his father cheers in the stands.

Chapters 31-34 Analysis

Eric’s plan to sneak into Griffin’s house and retrieve his stolen items could be criticized as stooping to a bully’s level. However, the scheme succeeds in convincing Griffin that bullying Eric is not worth the trouble. Griffin was likely impressed that Eric had the nerve to pull off the scheme, as bullies often recognize (and may even respect) strength as their undoing. After all, a bully is only as effective as their ability to intimidate others into compliance and submission. At the end of the novel, Griffin decides to leave Eric in peace and returns David Hallenback’s baseball pin (one of his souvenirs)—suggesting that he has at least mitigated his bullying.

However, Griffin largely remains an unrepentant and unpunished character—which speaks to the power of those in power (whether it be through charisma or other factors). His appearance with Alexis Brown, a bully herself, makes it clear that he has failed to turn a new leaf. By contrast, both Eric and Mary grew from their experiences as once bystanders.