62 pages • 2 hours read
Ben PhilippeField Guide to the North American Teenager
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2019A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 15-21Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 15 Summary: “The Bro Reunion”
Norris’s field guide entry mentions fist bumps, inside jokes, and his worries that things won’t be the same.
Norris and Aarti text before he leaves for Vancouver. In Vancouver, Eric rushes Norris through the airport. Norris notices Eric has gotten his ear pierced. After settling into the ski lodge, Norris checks his email. He’s hoping to hear from Aarti, but he can’t run up his cell phone bill with international texting. He has an email from his mom, his dad, Madison, and Liam. All four people wish Norris a good spring break, but there is no email from Aarti.
Eric reveals he’s dating a new student, Marc-André, and has come out to his parents. His dad is upset but slowly coming around. Norris and Eric have their marginalized status in common, as a gay teen and a Black teen in their predominantly Catholic and white schools. Norris congratulates Eric for coming out and compliments the earring.
Norris tells Eric about Liam, Maddie, and Aarti. Eric suggests Austin is where Norris belongs. Norris denies it but considers there is some truth to the statement.
Chapter 16 Summary: “Homecomings”
Norris’s field guide entry estimates the amount of time it will take him to unpack and expresses his urgency to see Aarti.
Norris flies home with a souvenir for Aarti. He asks Judith if she can take him to deliver it once his stuff is dropped off. Aarti is coy with her location but eventually drops a pin for Norris. She’s at a monastery-like building with a scenic overlook with her camera and tripod.
Aarti has been filming local vistas for a new art project. Norris finds her photography interest attractive. He compliments her, and they kiss. Norris holds her hand, but she pulls away and gives him a hard time for being needy. When Norris looks upset, she apologizes and admits she’s stressed about her portfolio.
Norris presents the gift to Aarti: a snow globe. She makes it clear she doesn’t like the gift but quickly apologizes for being harsh. She’s stressed about telling her family that she wants to pursue photography seriously. She and Norris both know having immigrant parents means college is expected. Aarti wonders how to talk to her parents. Norris suggests they get food to talk about it, but Aarti declines. She needs to finish her project. Norris feels rejected and worries he’s done something wrong. He senses she wants time away from him.
Chapter 17 Summary: “The Dateless Evening”
Norris’s field guide entry mentions homework, fantasy hockey, crossword puzzles, and watching Degrassi: The Next Generation.
Norris chats with Eric online. He lies to avoid telling Eric about the Aarti tension. When Eric logs off, Norris changes his dad’s label in his phone to “Canadad,” which makes him feel better.
Norris is confused by Aarti’s coldness toward him. He checks his email to find an invitation to a movie event that evening with Maddie’s crew. Norris doesn’t want to go. He calls Liam.
Norris and Liam meet at the ice rink. Norris complains about Aarti not liking the gift. Liam suggests Norris and Aarti are different people with different expectations from relationships. Liam is getting better at skating and using a hockey stick. He mentions he’s been practicing with Patrick and a few other guys all break. Liam wants to start a hockey team, but Norris worries being a team captain would make him a jock. Liam suggests Norris is a jock, but he doesn’t like using singular labels for people. He points out that Norris spent spring break skiing, loves hockey, and hangs out with cheerleaders. Norris says they’ll need 20 people for a team, and Liam vows to find them. Norris feels good about having Liam as a teammate.
Chapter 18 Summary: “The Cheerleader Table”
Norris’s field guide entry details the people and food of the cheerleader table, which sits in the middle of the cafeteria.
Norris pores over his texts with Aarti. He’s sent her jokes, questions, and observations about Anderson High, and she’s responded to all his texts with cold, one-word answers. Norris joins Maddie at the cheerleaders’ table for lunch, to Meredith’s displeasure. Norris doesn’t understand Maddie and Meredith’s friendship.
Meredith talks about prom plans with Patrick. Norris worries about Maddie listening to that. He notices Aarti crossing the cafeteria. Maddie recognizes Norris needs advice. The other cheerleaders make derogatory comments about Aarti. When the girls press Norris for details, Maddie defends him and changes the subject. At the end of lunch, Meredith warns Norris to never sit with them again.
Maddie catches Norris at his locker to get the details about the Aarti drama. Norris doesn’t want to talk about it, but Maddie insists she wants to help. Norris fills her in. Maddie scolds him for bringing her a presumptuous and impersonal souvenir. She plans to help him get back on track during their shift on Friday.
Chapter 19 Summary: “The First Hockey Practice”
Norris’s field guide entry speculates about Liam’s recruitment tactics and the expected level of skating proficiency of the new team.
Norris realizes he doesn’t know Liam all that well, but one thing he knows is that Liam can get people on board with anything. Liam shows up with 18 people ready to play hockey, Patrick included. Liam asks Norris to give Patrick a chance. Patrick asks for a chance to play, wanting to start fresh. Norris agrees.
The scrimmage is messy and chaotic. The team needs some serious work before they’ll be ready to compete. Norris sees potential in them, however, including Patrick, who is surprisingly good at skating. After practice, the team grabs food at a taco stand. Norris would normally have left right after practice, but Liam is his ride. Norris gives Patrick tips about better-fitting skates, and the guys discuss a team name. Norris is sore and almost complains but instead remains quiet and enjoys the excited chatter.
Chapter 20 Summary: “Key Lime Season”
Norris’s field guide entry mentions juicing limes, whipping cream, and assembling boxes for 30 to 60 pies a day.
Key Lime Season is a big deal at the Bone Yard, which mass-produces key lime pies in-house and delivers them to the greater Austin area. It’s become a local tradition, and the season lasts from spring to late summer. Maddie and another coworker give Norris the rundown of the chaos that Key Lime Season brings as the three of them unload boxes of limes.
Maddie looks through Norris’s text exchanges with Aarti. She tells Norris he’s trying too hard, and it’s exhausting for Aarti to respond to his constant need for validation through jokes and witty observations. Norris remembers how Judith warned him about his mouth. Maddie constructs a text for Norris, acknowledging Aarti’s stress, inviting her on a special date, and promising there will be no snow globes. Maddie asks Norris to trust her and sends the message. Aarti agrees to the date. Maddie advises Norris to give Aarti a unique experience—nothing cliché.
Norris asks how things are working out for Maddie. Maddie reveals that the cheer coach wants to make her squad captain next year. Norris is excited for Maddie, but Maddie worries that Meredith will be mad since being cheer captain is Meredith’s dream. Norris encourages Maddie to take the opportunity for herself. Norris reminds Maddie about the Patrick situation and tells her to accept the spotlight sometimes. He thinks she’s too nice and encourages her to be selfish sometimes. He refers to her as his friend, saying he wants her to be happy. Maddie thanks him and hugs him.
Chapter 21 Summary: “The Big Date”
Norris’s field guide entry describes his date planning and preparation.
Norris leads Aarti through the empty school halls after hours. She’s confused and jokes about Norris being a murderer. Norris shows her to the indoor pool, where he’s set up a projector to show The Mighty Ducks on the ceiling. There are blankets, popcorn, and beers waiting for the two on the bleachers. Aarti admits that it’s a cool date.
They talk through the entire movie, discussing their family dynamics. Aarti asks why Norris doesn’t live with his dad in Canada, so Norris explains that situation. Aarti explains the complexities behind her avoiding telling her parents about pursuing photography. Aarti has a mentor now, an up-and-coming 20-something who has just moved to Austin.
Norris enjoys making Aarti laugh and likes that she likes him because she’s worldly and cool and appreciates his humor. They begin to make out and continue for almost 20 minutes until they’re interrupted by Mr. Goade, who comes to school after hours to use the pool for cardio. He warns them that they have until he finishes five laps to clear out, and they can forget the whole thing. Norris and Aarti continue making out in the parking lot after escaping the school.
Chapters 15-21 Analysis
The novel’s exploration of The Impact of Words deepens as Norris faces the sudden failure of his relationship with Aarti. After a breath of fresh air back in Canada with Eric, which ends with Norris acknowledging that Texas might be where he belongs, Norris returns to Austin to a cold reception from Aarti. Luckily for Norris, Maddie is happy to help him turn things around. Maddie scolds him for barraging Aarti with texts, and Norris recalls Judith warning him about “[his] goddamn mouth” (195). In a varied iteration of the theme, it’s not the content of Norris’s words that pushes Aarti away but rather the sheer extent of them. Unlike other characters, Aarti appreciates Norris’s quick wit and even his more impudent comments, but his relentless need for communication has pushed her away.
Maddie’s revelation that she is in the running for head cheerleader underscores the theme of Selfishness Versus Selflessness. When Maddie expresses potential doubt about accepting the position because it’s Meredith’s dream, Norris encourages her to “to be selfish sometimes. Not always […] but, like, put yourself first sometimes” (200). Maddie struggles with whether to be the people pleaser she’s always been or to accept a position she really wants. The contrast between her and Meredith demonstrates the potential drawbacks of too much selflessness and not enough selfishness.
The theme of The Influence of Stereotypes on Judgment is also explored in these chapters through Norris’s interactions with both Liam and Aarti. In Chapter 17, Norris and Liam discuss what it means to be a jock while discussing their potential hockey team. Norris rejects the position of being a team captain because he’s “not an actual jock, dude” (174). However, Liam, who clarifies that he doesn’t often “boil individuals down to a single label that encompasses the whole of their being” (174), points out that Norris loves hockey and skiing and spends time with cheerleaders: stereotypical jock behaviors. Liam’s views on labels illustrate that labels and stereotypes are not entirely accurate, all-encompassing, or static. While Liam sees how Norris embodies elements of the “jock” trope, Norris doesn’t see himself the same way. This difference in perception illustrates the idea that labels are a matter of perception and judgment. Norris’s continued labeling of Aarti as a “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” exemplifies how an individual’s judgment shapes their perception of another. In Chapter 16, Aarti explains to Norris how seriously she intends to take photography. Norris observes, “The whole camera thing would almost be a Manic Pixie cliché” (162-63). Norris’s assessment of Aarti’s interest in terms of stereotypical tropes illustrates his ongoing failure to view her as a three-dimensional person with needs and passions. Instead, he continues to view her as a movie character that obeys the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope, which ultimately hurts their ability to connect.
Despite Norris’s typecasting of Aarti, the two do have moments of genuine connection, in part due to their shared status as children of immigrants, illustrating the value of embracing similarities rather than overemphasizing stereotype-driven differences. In Chapter 16, the two commiserate about the expectations and experiences of being children of immigrants. Aarti explains her conflict between pursuing her photography passion and following the path her parents expect her to follow. Norris understands that “[w]hen you [are] the child of immigrants, you [aren’t] just you; your success [is] also your parents’, your cousins, your relatives’ still struggling for life in Haiti or India, wishing they were you” (166). Norris and Aarti’s shared experience as children of immigrants not only helps them understand each other better but also illustrates the greater cultural reality they find themselves immersed in. While their families immigrated to seek a better life, they have only known that “better life,” creating a cultural divide between child and parent. Norris and Aarti end on a positive note by the end of their date in Chapter 21, with Norris having bounced back from his mistakes thanks to Maddie’s help.
