What Happened To Rachel Riley?

On December 2, Anna interviews Cody for her podcast. Since she has figured out that he created the website, he is willing to talk; he is also relieved to get this secret off his chest. Cody describes how the game started with the boys talking about the girls’ bodies and who they found most attractive. It progressed to them daring each other to slap different girls on their behinds and then eventually keeping score for doing so.

Cody didn’t participate, so when the boys began teasing him about this, he made the website to get them off his back. After what happened at the barn and with the note in Blake’s locker, Cody wiped the website because he knew that they could get in real trouble. He doesn’t know how the game started again.

When Anna points out that he cheered for Carlos in the gym, Cody asserts that he only cheered, he didn’t start it; he also refused to turn the website back on for Blake. Cody claims that there is no prize this time. Anna brings up Rachel, and Cody explains that she is angry with him for not doing more to stop things. Cody tried to push back but asserts it’s hard when everyone laughs at him and that it’s tough to go through middle school without friends. Anna points out that that is what Rachel must do.

Anna asks Cody a final question, mentioning that he previously insinuated that Rachel got blamed for burning down the barn, hinting that she didn’t do it. Cody simply states that Rachel chose to be a good friend.

Anna looks through the police report of the incident at the barn. It suggests that although the minor in question denied any accomplices, there was a second set of bicycle tracks at the premises. She also had a key to the barn, which she allegedly stole from a local wedding planner who was her neighbor.

On December 6, Bee texts Anna, asking if she is okay after what happened at school. Anna notes that she was upset but is fine now.

After math class, Trevor snaps Anna’s bra strap again. She doesn’t say anything, worried about whether she will become the new “Rachel” and everyone’s favorite target. Back home, Nik, who is increasingly invested in the Rachel situation, shows Anna something she found on the scorecard website: A short paragraph notes that the winner was supposed to kiss Jordan after the award ceremony at the dance. Since this was a public website, Jordan would have known about this.

Thinking about everything that has happened, including to her, Anna starts to cry and finally tells Maja and Nik everything. Maja comforts her, asserting that niceness is not the same as kindness and honesty; this is the right time and occasion for Anna to be angry and display “a kind, honest intensity” (286). Together, they make a plan. Jamie also speaks with Anna, telling her that she is being extremely brave. Later that night, Anna lies awake contemplating different people’s anger, and she suddenly realizes who burned the barn down.

On December 7, Anna writes a note to Rachel revealing that she knows about “JR” and just wants to help.

Anna records an interview with Rachel for the podcast. Anna explains how she figured out that it was Jordan: the bike tracks, the sense that Rachel was covering for someone because she was going to Moorland soon, and the prize. Rachel describes what happened: Jordan stole the key from Lana when she was at school for career day and told Rachel that she was going to switch out the Rose Award. Jordan was supposed to get it, and the boys planned on kissing her backstage before the award; if Rachel got the award instead, Jordan wouldn’t have to be there. However, Rachel felt that this would solve nothing, as the boys wouldn’t change their behavior. She went to the barn to stop Jordan and said that they should tell on the boys instead.

Jordan didn’t want to do this because she felt bad and didn’t want anyone to get into trouble. The girls fought about this, during which Jordan accidentally tripped over a lantern she lit for light; it immediately set the barn ablaze. As they heard sirens, Rachel told Jordan to run and that she would take responsibility for this if Jordan would tell on the boys. However, even though Rachel covered for Jordan, Jordan told all the boys that Rachel snuck into the barn because she wanted the Rose Award for herself.

Anna tells Rachel that she is a good friend. Rachel, however, thinks that she is a hypocrite: Even though she is angry at Jordan for not speaking up, Rachel hasn’t told her mother the truth. She hates that things are starting up again and that Principal Howe isn’t doing anything to even investigate the sexual harassment claims. Anna tells Rachel her idea.

Anna texts Jordan, asking her to meet and revealing that she knows what happened and that Jordan owes Rachel.

Anna emails Babcia, thrilled with the news that she is visiting soon. She tells her that the Rachel project is going well and how Rachel is like an “antihero.” Anna ends with a penguin fact about how the birds are extremely loyal, traveling miles to find food but always returning home.

Nik and Anna babysit their neighbor’s four-year-old son while their parents are out. As they watch a nature documentary together, Nik’s phone buzzes. Nik reveals that it is not Bronson; she told him to stop calling and texting him, and she “said it like (she) meant it” (308), after which he complied.

On December 8, the Rileys send out their Christmas newsletter to the family, announcing that Rachel made it into the final round of applicants at Moorland.

Anna meets Jordan at Lee’s Dairy Emporium. Jordan expresses regret about how she did things and doesn’t think that she has been fair to Rachel. She wishes that all the girls had talked about the “game” among themselves more. Jordan thinks it is too late to say anything now, but Rachel arrives, claiming that it isn’t.

On December 12, Rachel receives an acceptance letter from Moorland.

On December 13, Inaya Fayen, the school’s guidance counselor, emails the eighth graders’ parents, reporting that she and Principal Howe are aware of incidents of sexual harassment that have been taking place over the year. She apologizes for not having taken steps to address it earlier. The school held a community meeting with the class where the girls spoke freely. The boys eventually responded and dialogued. After the meeting, the school rewrote its sexual harassment policy with the help of the students.

Kaylee and Jordan text about the meeting. Jordan feels good that she could talk openly about what it felt like to be the “prize.” Kaylee expresses how the “game” upset her too, and the girls promise to talk about things like this more from now on.

Blake and his gang pen an apology note to the girls of their class, agreeing to sign the new sexual harassment policy and voluntarily serve four weeks of after-school detention, where they will read and discuss material on sexual harassment directed by Ms. O’Dell. They are also going to donate funds from the upcoming February bake sake to the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence.

The school lays out its new policy in detail, describing the acts that will be deemed sexual harassment, the steps that will occur if sexual harassment is reported, and the consequences if staff do not act upon reports or witnessing of such acts. The policy also reiterates that complainants will be protected from retaliatory behavior.

On December 14, Principal Howe emails Rachel to apologize for having discounted her experiences and accepts accountability for the lack of trust that Rachel felt in the teachers. She is sorry that she contributed to Rachel’s negative experience and wishes her luck at Moorland next year, praising her resilience as inspiring.

Babcia arrives, and the Hunts go out together for pizza. Anna describes how she organized a meeting with the whole class after she, Jordan, and Rachel spoke to the guidance counselor. The girls also invited Ms. O’Dell and Dr. Abioye, their science teacher, to join. Once the girls began talking, everyone came forward to share their stories; the boys responded after, most of them claiming that they didn’t mean any of it seriously and that they understand the girls’ experiences better now. Dr. Abioye then helped the boys draft an apology letter.

Cody comes up to Anna at the restaurant and reveals that Jordan didn’t take the key to the barn herself; she couldn’t find it, and Cody stole it from his mother’s purse and gave it to her. Anna realizes that Cody is the one who was slipping clues into her locker the whole time and left Blake the note after the fire; he has known about Jordan all along. Anna encourages Cody to uphold what the boys wrote in their apology letter, stop harassing the girls, and hold the other boys accountable; Cody promises to do so.

Anna receives an “incomplete” grade in social issues on her fall semester report card.

On December 17, Cody texts Rachel, congratulating her on Moorland.

On December 19, Cody forwards the text messages between him and Rachel to Anna to help with her podcast project.

On December 20, Kaylee texts Anna saying that she has left her a notebook containing notes between her and Jordan for Anna to use in her podcast project. Rachel also texts Anna, stating that she has left some application materials for Moorland and the lighter from the barn in Anna’s locker; she is not coming back to school after the break, as she is doing virtual school to focus on her violin.

On December 21, Anna receives confirmation that her application to the podcasting summit has been received. Ms. O’Dell also emails Anna, noting that her social issues “un-essay” on recycling was sorely lacking, but she senses that Anna has been working on something else on the side. Ms. O’Dell encourages Anna to turn that in instead so that she can adjust the grade accordingly.

On January 9, Anna and Bee attend a high school basketball game together. To Anna’s dismay, she notices Trevor snapping Malika’s bra strap and feels despondent that nothing has changed. However, almost instantly, Riz comes over. Anna watches him talk to both Malika and Trevor before Trevor mumbles something to Malika and she nods in response. Anna reflects on how change has happened after all: “You could create it, if you tried” (343).