41 pages • 1 hour read
Judy BlumeTales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1972A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapter 7Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 7 Summary: “The Flying Train Committee”
Peter’s class is assigned a project on “The City”; he is on a committee with Sheila and Jimmy Fargo. They have several weeks to produce a booklet and poster on the topic of transportation, in addition to preparing an oral report. Sheila assumes an authoritative role in the project but complains constantly about being “stuck with the worst possible committee” (71). The trio meets in Peter’s apartment because he is the only child with his own bedroom. The craft equipment that they use for the project is kept in a box under his bed. Sheila brings the booklet home every week, as she does not trust it being kept at Peter’s house.
Upon his arrival home from school one day, Peter finds that Fudge has entered his bedroom and scribbled over the poster on which he and Jimmy had labored so hard. Peter is furious at Fudge and hurt and angry that his mother allowed this to happen. Mrs. Hatcher apologizes to Peter and explains that she spanked Fudge as a result of this transgression. She promises that Fudge will not enter the bedroom again.
Jimmy is very good natured upon learning of the poster’s destruction. He and Peter create a replacement, and Sheila copies their written work into a booklet. There is a brief disagreement when the boys realize that Sheila gave herself top billing on the writing project, but the group reaches a compromise. That evening, Peter finds Fudge in his room once again. The toddler has cut his own hair, which has fallen into Dribble’s bowl. Mr. Hatcher returns home with a chain lock for Peter’s bedroom door. The project is well received by Peter’s teacher, Mrs. Haver.
Peter, who analyzes New York City’s traffic difficulties for the committee, wishes to suggest the construction of a “citywide monorail system” (72); however, Sheila counters that this is too costly. When Jimmy and Sheila bicker over the size of the handwriting used for their respective sections of the report, Peter wisely suggests that Sheila, who has the best script, copy the entire document.
Sheila continues to behave as an administrator. She critiques the poster that Peter and Jimmy designed. Jimmy responds by asking, “did anybody ever tell you you’re too bossy?” (75). He also advises her that working together does not mean that she is qualified to give orders, which causes her to become annoyed and leave.
Chapter 7 Analysis
Sheila’s interaction with Peter during the group project is typical of preadolescent relationships. Peter is annoyed by her tendency toward superiority and her need to control the project. Sheila, in turn, seeks opportunities to take exclusive credit for the group’s work and sulks when she is stymied by Jimmy and Peter. Peter muses that he and Jimmy “only put up with her because we have no choice!” (71).
Peter is rational and analytical by nature; he has a precocious ability to express his ideas fluently. When he suggests that their project should discuss the construction of a monorail system for New York City, Sheila immediately objects that this solution is prohibitively expensive. Her efforts to attract his attention often are based upon oppositional behavior. Peter’s rationality benefits the group when Sheila and Jimmy argue over the credit for the project; he echoes some of the advice his mother uses to calm him when Fudge misbehaves. Jimmy is more straightforward and less inhibited than Peter when expressing his annoyance about Sheila’s bossiness.
Peter recognizes his mother’s efforts to support him in this project when he realizes that she arranged playdates out of the family’s apartment for Fudge on the afternoons that his committee meets to work. Nonetheless, when Fudge gets into Peter’s room and ruins the project poster, Peter lashes out at his mother. Despite his level of maturity and articulation, Peter is still a child himself.
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By Judy Blume
