42 pages • 1 hour read
After Ever After
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Chapters 6-11Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 6 Summary: “The Handsome Babe Magnet Rides Again”
Although he is happy about his developing friendship with Lindsey, Jeff is worried about the prospect of having to explain his cancer history to her. He is also mortified when his parents ask him about Lindsey, whom they heard about from Tad’s mother. To Jeff’s dismay, Tad also keeps pushing his friend to get together with Lindsey. Tad confesses that he is worried that no girl will ever be interested in him, and Jeff unsuccessfully tries to reassure him.
Chapter 7 Summary: “Payback”
Jeff begins working out with Tad, who can only do limited exercise at first. When he is done pedaling on the bike, Tad encourages Jeff to lift weights, arguing that it will make him look good for Lindsey. When Jeff complains, Tad unexpectedly storms out of the room angrily.
Later, Miss Palma gives her students two new journal assignments. The first is to write down a conversation they overheard, and Jeff picks an argument between his parents and his brother. When Steven announced that he was leaving, he expressed frustration at the pressure he felt to be a perfect son, brother, and boyfriend, which his parents did not fully understand. Miss Palma’s second journal prompt is for students to write a letter to someone they admire. Jeff writes an email to Steven, telling him about his confusing feelings for Lindsey, his fight with Tad, and his worry that his brother may resent him.
Chapter 8 Summary: “Partners”
A few weeks later, Lindsey and Jeff are made lab partners in science class. Jeff is very happy about it, but it makes him distracted during class. Later, he announces that Tad is ready to try walking rather than pedaling, and his friend tells him why he stopped walking in the first place. A couple years earlier, a classmate made a comment about Tad looking strange when he walked, so Tad decided to only use his wheelchair from then on. However, Jeff convinces him to start taking a few steps again.
As the school Halloween dance is coming up, Lindsey invites Jeff to be her date. The only hint she gives him about their costumes is to “think Disney.”
Chapter 9 Summary: “Night of the Living Waterfowl”
Confused by Lindsey’s instructions, Jeff shows up at the Halloween dance in a Donald Duck costume, while she is dressed as Cinderella. They laugh about it and have a great time. When Jeff tells Lindsey about his cancer diagnosis, it goes well, which comforts the young boy about opening up to her. When he later recounts the evening to Tad, the latter is supportive at first. However, he becomes irritated by some of Jeff’s comments and starts comparing their situations as cancer survivors, implying that the aftereffects he experiences are more visible than Jeff’s.
Chapter 10 Summary: “The End of Thanksgiving”
Over the next few weeks, Jeff and Lindsey’s relationship develops as he learns more and more about her. Tad and Jeff’s tutoring sessions also continue to go well, and the Alper family gets a call from Steven on Thanksgiving. Then Jeff is called into the guidance counselor’s office. She informs him that she has just had a conversation with Jeff’s mother during which it became clear that Jeff did not tell his parents about the end-of-year testing.
Chapter 11 Summary: “Grounded, Sorta”
When Jeff goes home, he has an argument with his mother that ends with him being grounded until the end of the year. When Jeff mentions that he is afraid that his father will be disappointed in him, she reassures him that his father loves him more than anything. Jeff later overhears a conversation between his parents: His father insists on letting him take the test for his own good, while his mother argues that his disability should exempt him from it. Jeff is hurt by his mother’s words, thinking that she believes he is “retarded.”
Later, Miss Palma introduces the class to Cyrano de Bergerac, a play about a man with an enormous nose who falls in love with a beautiful woman and writes her letters secretly. Jeff and Tad joke that this subterfuge may help Tad find a girlfriend, and Tad mentions that he would like to perform a beau geste—a meaningful grand gesture.
Chapters 6-11 Analysis
Chapters 6-11 continue developing the theme of The Aftereffects of Cancer Treatment, exploring the personal implications of living with a disability. Jeff and Tad’s discussion of their respective disabilities adds nuance to this theme, revealing the differences in their experiences. Jeff is largely worried that his developing relationship with Lindsey will force him to have “The Conversation” about his medical history. He anticipates that it will lead to confusion, awkwardness, and possible rejection because that is how people have reacted in the past. His anxiety highlights the isolation that can come with disability. For Jeff, at least, this isolation is not due to his physical or cognitive disabilities themselves but rather to the heavy stigma surrounding cancer (and other life-threatening illnesses). Lindsey’s positive reaction to Jeff disclosing his diagnosis thus alleviates much of his insecurity while characterizing their relationship as healthy and caring.
However, Jeff is oblivious to the differences between his and Tad’s situation. The latter points out the social privilege that Jeff benefits from because his side effects are less visible:
Well, it’s easy to be honest about your late effects, D.A. You know, ‘Lindsey, I have a cute little limp. But I’m fine. And sometimes I space out in class. But it’s all good. My friend Tad, on the other hand? He’s a mess. Can you believe he needs a testosterone shot every day? Plus, human growth hormone so he won’t be totally deformed when he grows up—IF he grows up?’ (93)
Tad’s insecurities surface in other interactions with Jeff, as he often gets irritated when Jeff vents about an issue that Tad feels is worse for him. For example, when Jeff wonders whether Lindsey likes him, Tad doubts whether anyone will ever like him; similarly, when Jeff complains about his workout regimen, Tad retorts that working his legs is even more difficult. Tad’s reason for relying on a wheelchair—to avoid scrutiny—further illustrates the more difficult time he has adjusting to life after cancer. Tad’s comments underline the social privilege that comes with being able to behave in ways deemed socially acceptable or “normal,” but the novel suggests that Tad, preoccupied with his own struggles, is being somewhat unfair. Jeff’s cognitive disability prevents him from participating in other normative behaviors, such as taking a standardized test. This complex, dynamic representation of disability itself challenges the ableist attitudes and limiting beliefs that cause the boys’ insecurities and social anxiety.
Additionally, this section of the book provides more exposition about Jeff and Steven’s relationship. In an unsent email, Jeff poses a hesitant question that reveals his belief that Steven left because of him: “[Did I] gradually annoy you more and more over time?” (75). Jeff’s sense of guilt plays into the theme of The Impact of Life-Threatening Illness on Family Dynamics. Jeff’s diagnosis was stressful for his brother as well, although this does not mean that Steven blames Jeff for the situation (as Jeff fears).
Jeff’s relationships with Steven and Tad are not the only source of conflict in these chapters. The narrative tension is heightened when Jeff’s parents learn about the end-of-year tests. Jeff is partially grounded as a result, which introduces new narrative challenges. However, it also leads to a breakthrough in the young boy’s relationship with his parents. Jeff’s mother explains his father’s insistence on academic success as his way of caring: “No parent ever wants to see his child struggle. And it’s even harder for Dad to see you struggle with math, because that’s always come so easy to him” (112). This insight provides significant context for Jeff’s parents’ conversation about how to handle their son’s disability—a conversation that mirrors social discourse around disability support. Significantly, Jeff’s opinion on whether he should receive additional support is unclear. While this may indicate either his lack of agency or his own self-doubts, it also allows the novel to avoid taking a definitive stance on the issue, instead engaging readers’ critical thinking on the topic.
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