59 pages • 1-hour read
The Secret Battle of Evan Pao
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Chapters 17-23Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 17 Summary: “Evan”
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of emotional abuse, bullying, and racism.
Evan opens the door and finds Brady Griggs outside. Brady swears he did not take Mochi, and Evan tells him he knows. Brady offers to help Evan find his dog. Evan questions why Brady would help, and Brady explains that he likes dogs and knows how to work with them. Evan presses further, and Brady admits the other students are threatening him with permanent silent treatment because they think he is responsible for Mochi’s disappearance. After some hesitation, Evan agrees to Brady’s help. He retrieves a towel with Mochi’s scent, and Brady instructs his dog, Nero, to track the scent. Together, they follow Nero through town.
Nero loses the scent near the fire station. A man named Mr. Catten asks what the boys are searching for and points them toward Miller’s Field. The boys head there, and Evan admits he has already searched the field. Brady asks if Evan called for Mochi while walking through it. Evan confirms he did but insists Mochi would come to him if she were nearby. Brady explains that Mochi might be too scared to approach and more likely to run.
Brady directs Nero to track again, and they discover a paw print in the mud. Evan asks what Mr. Catten was trying to say about the field before Brady interrupts him. Brady admits that a coyote killed the last dog lost at Miller’s Field. Evan begins to panic, but Brady tells him to stay still.
Chapter 18 Summary: “Brady”
Nero points toward the west end of Miller’s Field. Brady scans the area and spots an eye staring back at him from the grass. He tells Evan to look without staring directly at the eye. Brady wishes they had food to use as bait as rain begins to fall. Evan pulls out a granola bar and beef jerky from his pocket. Brady instructs him to act as if he is eating and to avoid looking directly toward the spot where the animal is hiding. They use Evan’s phone in selfie mode to monitor the area without being obvious.
Brady tells Evan to drop food on the ground and make noise to attract the animal. The rain intensifies, and Nero begins to whine. Evan throws food toward Nero, which prompts movement in the grass. Brady advises Evan to lie down to appear less threatening. Despite the mud and rain, Evan follows the advice. After a while, Mochi emerges from the grass. Evan asks if he can grab her, but Brady warns him to wait.
Mochi cautiously approaches. Evan uses jerky to lure her closer. Mochi grabs the food and retreats but eventually returns. She allows Evan to pet her. Finally, Evan grabs her collar, securing her safely.
Chapter 19 Summary: “Evan”
Evan and Brady walk home together, with Evan carrying Mochi part of the way. Evan reflects on how he cannot stay angry with Brady. Brady instructs Evan not to tell anyone he helped find Mochi. Evan argues that it is only fair to tell their classmates, as Brady played a key role in recovering the dog. Brady insists he helped for Mochi’s sake, not for recognition or to end the silent treatment.
Evan asks Brady why he broke their window. Brady struggles to answer and eventually claims he acted out of anger. Sensing the lie, Evan presses him further. Brady claims he shot from his bedroom window, but Evan catches him in the lie, realizing Brady did not shoot the house. Brady runs home, warning Evan to stay away from him.
Celeste and Elaine express relief and joy at home at Mochi’s return. The house feels whole again. Together, they work on Evan’s costume for Battlefield Day. Evan tells Elaine he wants to contact Michael about what happened. Elaine advises caution, emphasizing the importance of safety. Evan decides they should start by writing a letter.
Later that night, Evan climbs the tree outside Brady’s window. Brady is surprised to see him. Evan insists he wants the truth. Brady explains that Charlie shot the window out of anger after losing a job and being upset over Evan’s comments at the council meeting. Brady reveals that his father, Randall, forced him to take the blame to protect Charlie from harsher consequences. Charlie rationalized his actions, saying he did it for Brady.
Evan worries when Brady climbs onto the tree and stands on a branch, looking distressed. Evan offers him a Fig Newton, and Brady sits down. Brady expresses fear about the truth getting out, as he doubts anyone would believe he acted out of kindness rather than malice. Brady apologizes to Evan and returns to his house.
Chapter 20 Summary: “Max”
Max prepares for Battlefield Day. He asks his mother what will happen next year, and she admits no other teacher wants to take over organizing the event, though it is a tradition. She asks if the event teaches anything valuable. Max mentions learning about Chinese soldiers in the Civil War. His mother acknowledges it is interesting but views it as trivia rather than something impactful. Max argues that it matters and has changed the class’s understanding of history.
The students sample Civil War-era food, including sloosh, hardtack, and dried apples. Mr. Catten, running one of the stations, asks about Mochi. Evan shares that he found her. When Max asks who helped, Evan reveals that Brady assisted in finding the dog. Evan remarks that Battlefield Day marks the end of the silent treatment. Max hopes that Brady will leave Evan alone after this, but Evan desires something different.
Chapter 21 Summary: “Evan”
Evan approaches Brady during Battlefield Day and sits beside him, ignoring Brady’s attempts to wave him off. The other students gather around, asking questions, until Mrs. Norwood intervenes. She redirects them to their stations, but Evan asks about the Civil War. He wonders how people in the war managed to forgive one another afterward. Mrs. Norwood comments that governments rarely apologize. Evan comments that forgiveness is possible and then helps Brady to his feet.
Max questions if Evan broke the silent treatment. Evan explains it was an emergency. Max continues asking questions, but Evan ends the conversation, stating that Brady apologized and he forgave him. The class gradually follows Evan’s lead in forgiving Brady. Evan notes that Brady has one more thing to do.
Chapter 22 Summary: “Brady”
Evan tells Brady he must apologize to Elaine. Brady admits he is scared of her. With Evan’s help, Brady prepares an honest and sincere apology without mentioning Charlie’s involvement in the shooting. When Brady apologizes, Elaine reminds him that he could have killed someone. Brady apologizes again and promises to do better. Elaine questions where this behavior ends. Brady assures her it ends with him. Elaine tells him she needs time to think and asks him to return the next day.
Chapter 23 Summary: “Evan”
Evan, Max, and Brady hide in the bushes outside Brady’s house, waiting for the right moment to enact their plan. Brady confirms that Charlie is napping and Randall is in a staff meeting. As they prepare, Celeste and Ella walk by. Mochi nearly reveals their location, but the girls pass without incident.
The boys hurry as Charlie wakes up and moves to the bathroom. Evan finishes drawing on Charlie’s car just as Charlie steps outside. Charlie drives off, unaware that his car now displays “Now Mercy” instead of “No Mercy.”
Chapters 17-23 Analysis
This section focuses on three critical themes: How Prejudice Hurts People and Communities, How Family Dynamics and Legacy Affect Relationships, and The Struggle to Find Identity and Belonging When You’re Different. The Secret Battle of Evan Pao explores these ideas through how the characters interact, their personal struggles, and the challenges created by the world around them.
Prejudice shows up in many ways, affecting how characters see themselves and others. Brady faces prejudice from his classmates because they assume he took Mochi, even though there is no proof. This isolation shows how prejudice can unfairly separate people and create mistrust. Brady wants to help Evan find Mochi but hesitates because others already judge him unfairly. This judgment makes it harder for him to connect with others, even when he is doing something kind.
The book also highlights prejudice in history’s retelling. Max talks with his mom about Chinese soldiers who fought in the Civil War. His mom downplays their contributions, calling them “trivia” and not something that really matters: “Oh, you mean that thing with Evan? That’s really nice for him, but what’s something you learn that matters? That’s like […] Not trivia, exactly, but you know what I mean” (166). Mrs. Baldwin illustrates how society often ignores or dismisses the roles of less recognized groups. Max argues that these stories are important, pushing for a more inclusive view of history.
Prejudice even affects how people in the town view Brady and his family. Brady feels trapped by the town’s negative opinion of the Griggs family: “Try being a Griggs in this town. We peaked in the 1800s and it’s been downhill ever since” (159). He believes that no one will trust him, no matter what he does. This fear keeps him isolated and afraid to ask for help: “They’ll want to know why I helped […] because Brady Griggs wouldn’t do something just because it was right. […] Even if I wanted to change, no one would let me” (163). His struggles show how prejudice can make people feel stuck and alone.
Family plays a significant role in the characters’ choices and how they act. Brady’s family relationships are complicated. His dad, Randall, makes him take the blame for the shooting to protect Charlie, Brady’s brother. These actions show how loyalty to family can sometimes lead to unfair or harmful decisions. Randall’s actions also show a pattern in their family—protecting their reputation is more important than being honest.
Charlie’s actions also reveal the pressures of family expectations. He shoots at Evan’s house out of frustration over losing his job and being upset by Evan’s comments at a council meeting. Charlie says he did it “for Brady,” but his actions hurt more than they help. Love in the Griggs family is often tied to harm, creating a cycle of bad behavior.
Evan’s family, on the other hand, provides a healthier example. When Mochi comes home, Celeste and Elaine are overjoyed. They work together on Evan’s costume, showing their closeness and support. Elaine’s careful advice to Evan about contacting Michael shows how much she cares about his safety. This contrast between Evan’s and Brady’s families highlights how different family environments shape how characters handle problems. Elaine even points this out: “People at birth are basically good. But…they become different if they are not properly taught.”
The search for identity and belonging drives many characters, especially Brady and Evan. Brady struggles with how the community sees him. Helping Evan find Mochi shows that he wants to prove himself and change people’s negative views of him. However, his choice to stay anonymous shows his fear of rejection. Brady wants to belong, but he is not sure people will accept him.
Brady’s apology to Elaine is a big step for him. With Evan’s encouragement, he faces his fear and admits he was wrong. This moment shows his growth and his desire to do better. Elaine’s response, though cautious, shows that she recognizes his sincerity. Brady’s actions suggest that belonging can be earned through honesty and effort.
Evan also works through questions about belonging, especially in his relationship with Brady. Evan chooses to forgive Brady and even breaks the silent treatment in front of their classmates. He asks how people after the Civil War forgave each other, connecting historical conflicts to personal ones. This moment shows that forgiveness is important for building understanding and connections. Evan’s leadership inspires others to forgive Brady, showing that belonging takes empathy and courage.
The themes of prejudice, family dynamics, and identity are deeply connected. Brady’s fear of prejudice comes from his family’s influence. Loyalty to Charlie makes him feel stuck and shapes how others see him. Evan’s choice to forgive Brady reflects his own family’s values of kindness and understanding. By forgiving Brady, Evan challenges the town’s prejudice and helps Brady feel like he belongs.
Battlefield Day ties these themes together. The students learn about the contributions of marginalized groups, challenging the idea that only specific stories matter. This understanding of history helps them accept Brady, showing that learning about the past can change how people act in the present.
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