Previous
8. I Spy
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Everything, Everything, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Coming of Age
Trust and Lies
Family, Abuse, and Bravery
The Value of Experience
Summary
Analysis
Maddy sits down for Friday night dinner, which is a weekly special occasion in her house with French food. It’s so special that even Carla eats with Maddy and Mom. Mom always makes cassoulet, a French stew and Maddy’s dad’s favorite food, but because of Maddy’s allergies, it only has white beans and broth in it. As Mom serves, she asks if Maddy is doing okay—she’s late on her architecture assignment for Mr. Waterman. Mom asks if Maddy wants a new tutor. This surprises Maddy, as she didn’t know Mom was even paying attention. Maddy insists that she lost track of time, but Mom asks if this is about the new neighbors. Maddy has never lied to Mom before, but she thinks she has to. She tells Mom she’s too engrossed in a book.
The revelation that Mom is keeping tabs on Maddy’s progress in school flags for Maddy and the reader that Mom is probably keeping an eye on more than just Maddy’s schooling. It’s important to note that for Maddy, realizing that Mom is watching her like this doesn’t make her want to be truthful—in fact, it does the opposite and brings about Maddy’s first lie. Maddy’s desire to not share her crush with Mom is entirely understandable, and it suggests that Maddy is already beginning to move away from Mom and their close relationship.
Themes
A few minutes later, when Maddy isn’t eating as quickly as usual, Mom worriedly feels her forehead. The doorbell rings, an unusual occurrence. Mom goes to get it and instructs Maddy and Carla to stay put. Maddy, however, assures Carla that Mom won’t let anyone pass the air lock—a sealed room around the front door, so hazards don’t get into the house—and Carla relents. Olly tells Mom that Olly’s mom sent a Bundt cake, but it’s guaranteed to be inedible. Mom apologizes, but says she can’t accept it. Olly asks if Maddy is around, which shocks Maddy. Mom closes the door on Olly and steps through the airlock, looking pained. She apologizes and Maddy thinks of how hard it must be for Mom to be locked up with her ill daughter. After dinner, Maddy goes to her room to think about what Bundt cake tastes like.
Again, though Mom seems genuinely sorry that Maddy doesn’t get to experience friends, neighbors, and the outside world, it’s also a mark of Maddy’s compassion that she dwells on what Mom gave up to care for her. Even though compassion is a good thing, however, it’s worth keeping in mind that Maddy’s is tinged with guilt— seems to feel worse for Mom’s situation than she does about her own even though she’s the one with a life-threatening illness. This begins to expose the possibility that Maddy and Mom’s dynamic isn’t as innocent as it might seem—Mom may have, purposefully or not, trained Maddy to think about Mom instead of herself.
Themes
