49 pages • 1 hour read
Not Nothing
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Chapters 1-8Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of mental illness and death.
Chapter 1 Summary: “Let Me Tell You a Story”
Josey opens the story by mentioning his age (107 years old) and explaining that the upcoming story will actually be two stories: One about “the boy” (Alex), who did something horrible, and one about Josey and Olka. Upon meeting Josey, Alex and Josey both found themselves learning how to live life to the fullest.
Chapter 2 Summary: “Opportunity”
Alex hates the word “opportunity” because the idea of wasting opportunities and taking advantage of them has been something he has heard from the judge, his aunt and uncle, and his social worker. His social worker arranged for Alex to spend the summer volunteering at Shady Glen Retirement Home, and Alex hates the idea. Immediately upon walking in, he complains that it smells of “death” and feels his nerves acting up when he sees the elderly people (whom he starts referring to as “zombies”). Alex’s social worker tells him he can see this summer as a punishment or as an opportunity, but Alex only sees punishment. He doesn’t want to discuss all the things boiling inside of him.
Alex is taken to meet Mrs. Winston, a nurse and director of the home.
