59 pages • 1-hour read
The Secret Battle of Evan Pao
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Chapters 6-10Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 6 Summary: “Celeste”
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying and racism.
Evan uses the word “fixin’,” irritating Celeste. He defends himself, saying he is trying to fit in, but Celeste argues they cannot change their origins. She complains that a boy likes her only because she seems “different” and “exotic,” even though he does not know her. Evan says it is better than being hated, but Celeste counters that someone liking someone else without knowing them is just as bad as someone hating someone else without knowing them. She expresses her desire to graduate early and leave Haddington, which is upsetting to Evan.
At dinner, Uncle Joe joins the family. Elaine mentions Evan’s math test success after Celeste shares her biology test news, revealing she is in frequent contact with their teachers. Evan becomes angry as he questions Elaine’s knowledge about the heirloom project and Mrs. Norwood’s suggestion he act as a scribe for Battlefield Day.
Celeste criticizes the heirloom project, pointing out how it excludes Black students and others without ties to the Civil War. Joe interjects that their ancestor’s involvement in the Chinese Civil War should count. He offers to let Evan bring a grenade from their great-grandfather, but Celeste insists it would get Evan expelled. Evan argues that bringing something from a different war would make him look foolish. Frustrated, Celeste tells Evan to deal with the fact that there were no Asians in the American Civil War.
To prove her point, Celeste googles whether any Chinese soldiers served in the American Civil War and discovers Joseph Pierce, a Union soldier adopted from China. They find more examples of Chinese soldiers, but Elaine reminds them that their family immigrated in the 20th century, so they likely have no connection to these soldiers.
Chapter 7 Summary: “Max”
During flag football after lunch, Casey Plummer and Evan play quarterbacks. Max and Casey are on the opposing teams. Casey surprises Max by choosing Brady, who is slow and not a team player, as his first pick. Brady promises to “take care of it,” which worries Max (58).
When Evan’s team has the ball, Brady rushes at him even after Evan passes the ball. Max warns Evan, who dodges Brady by jumping over him, impressing everyone. Max calls a foul on Brady, but the argument ends when Mrs. Norwood signals the end of recess.
In class, Evan presents his research on Chinese soldiers in the Civil War, admitting he lacks an heirloom but sharing information about Joseph Pierce. The class asks questions, but Brady interrupts, claiming the picture is fake. Mrs. Norwood suggests Evan check the library for verification but allows him to be a soldier for Battlefield Day.
Brady shares a prosthetic leg belonging to his ancestor, Jubal Griggs, who lost his leg at Chancellorsville. Mrs. Norwood remarks that history includes both old and new stories before moving to the next class.
Chapter 8 Summary: “Evan”
Evan finds Uncle Joe at home and tells him how the presentation went. Uncle Joe takes Evan to the library to research Chinese soldiers further. Joe’s friend, librarian George Lavers, enthusiastically helps. He explains the public hearing happening nearby, where residents are debating the possible removal of a statue of a Confederate soldier outside the courthouse. George notes that Virginia installed many such Confederate statues outside of courthouses in the early 20th century as a response to civil rights protests.
George finds reliable sources about Joseph Pierce and a census report confirming his existence. They find a book on Asian soldiers in the Civil War available from the National Park Service, but it will take too long to arrive, so George prints an article for Evan to share with his class.
George convinces Joe and Evan to attend the public hearing. The attendees stare at them as they enter, and one implies they are in the wrong place. Eventually, the meeting continues and a speaker argues that removing the statue erases history. Evan whispers to Joe that there is more to history than statues. The speaker angrily addresses him, but the chairman kindly asks Evan to direct comments to the chair. Evan states that the statue promotes only one perspective of the Civil War.
Proud of Evan, Joe takes him for ice cream. Outside the shop, they see a stray dog rummaging through trash. The dog approaches Evan, who convinces Joe to take her home. They decide to tell Elaine and Celeste that the medium-sized brown dog “followed” them home.
Chapter 9 Summary: “Celeste”
Celeste waits outside, hoping to see her classmate, Ella, walking her dog, Kiki, and notices Evan and Joe returning with the stray dog. Celeste immediately bonds with the dog, who has no collar or tags. Joe explains that people often abandon dogs in the country.
Elaine does not believe the dog jumped into the truck but allows them to keep her temporarily. They name the dog Mochi. Despite Elaine’s objections, Celeste and Evan’s excitement persuades her to let Mochi stay.
Ella passes by and stops to talk to Celeste about Mochi. During their conversation, Ella mentions that Luke Ellis, the boy interested in Celeste because he finds her “exotic,” found an article about Michael Pao’s arrest in California. Ella mentions that Luke wondered if Michael Pao is Celeste’s father. Celeste deflects, claiming many people in Schuyler, California, share the last name Pao.
Later, Celeste tells Evan that the police found and arrested Michael. Evan cries, and Celeste reassures him that Michael never lied directly to them, so it makes sense that Evan’s talent did not pick up on it. Evan asks if she misses Michael, and Celeste admits she misses their old life. She explains that it is possible to miss someone and be angry at them simultaneously, but she adds that it is easier to feel mad. Internally, she acknowledges that her emotions are more complicated than what she tells Evan.
Chapter 10 Summary: “Max”
Evan shares the library article about Asian Civil War soldiers at school. The class, including the principal, is impressed. Max regrets not defending Evan when Brady doubted the article’s authenticity.
Brady criticizes Evan, pointing out that most Asian soldiers fought for the Union and were not famous. This time, Max defends Evan, stating that most Civil War soldiers were not famous either.
On Saturday, Max and Evan walk their dogs through Haddington. Evan explains that the Asian soldiers are famous to him. They pass the Confederate statue, and Evan asks who the soldier is. Max admits he does not know.
Max takes Evan to the First Methodist Church and shows Evan an old oak tree next to a ravine. Tied to the tree is a makeshift rope swing. Max demonstrates the swing and encourages Evan to try it. Brady interrupts them, and their classmate, Alex, trails behind Brady. Brady states Evan must belong to the church or be related to someone who goes to the church to use the swing. Max argues there is no such rule.
Ignoring the argument, Evan grabs the rope, swings across, and returns. Brady yells at him, but Mochi intervenes, standing protectively between them. Brady pets Mochi but warns Evan to follow Haddington’s rules.
As they leave, Max asks if Evan wants to fight Brady. Evan declines, explaining that fighting is not how problems are solved where he comes from. Max responds that Evan is in Haddington now.
Chapters 6-10 Analysis
In The Secret Battle of Evan Pao, education becomes a lens to explore the themes of How Prejudice Hurts People and Communities and The Struggle to The Struggle to Find Identity and Belonging When You’re Different. These chapters show how systemic racism and unconscious bias manifest in Haddington, often in ways that the community does not recognize or address. From classroom assignments to public discussions about history, these chapters reveal the barriers Evan and his family face in trying to fit into a place that marginalizes their experiences. By highlighting these challenges, the story delves into how prejudice shapes identity and the struggle for acceptance.
Evan tries to adjust to Haddington by blending in, but Celeste openly expresses her frustrations with their new circumstances. She frequently contrasts their life in Haddington with what they lost. Her anger becomes apparent in a fight with Evan, where Celeste says, “We’re not from here. […] You’re not fooling anyone” (51). She misses her old school, friends, and life. This shows how deeply the move has affected her sense of stability and identity.
Celeste also notices the racism they face. She criticizes Luke Ellis, a boy at school who likes her, pointing out that his admiration is rooted in stereotypes. She says, “He thinks he likes me. […] He follows me around telling me […] how he likes my long black hair and how I must be so smart and I’m not like the other girls […].” (51). When Evan argues that having someone admire her is better than the hostility he faces from Brady, Celeste disagrees: “A person who hates you without knowing you is the same as a person who likes you without knowing you” (51). Her words emphasize how admiration and hate when based on assumptions, reduce a person to an idea instead of treating them as individuals.
The heirloom project is another example of how systemic racism is present in Haddington. Mrs. Norwood assigns the project without thinking about how it might exclude students of diverse backgrounds. Celeste immediately points this out, saying, “What if you had a classmate who was Black? What would they bring in? […] What was worse, to have nothing, or to have the evidence of an awful past” (53)? This question highlights how assignments like these unintentionally reinforce feelings of exclusion for students who do not fit the dominant cultural narrative.
Mrs. Norwood’s reaction to Evan’s discovery of Chinese soldiers in the Civil War shows her unintentional prejudice. She is excited to learn about Joseph Pierce and praises Evan for his research. However, her failure to consider how the heirloom assignment could be harmful reveals her lack of awareness. This ignorance prevents her from understanding the barriers students like Evan face when trying to feel included.
Ironically, Celeste’s anger over the heirloom project leads to Evan’s discovery of Chinese soldiers in the Civil War. At first, Celeste lashes out at Evan, saying, “You know there aren’t Chinese people in the Civil War! Why do you want something you can’t have” (55)? Celeste’s angry comment mirrors her disappointment with their current situation and her struggle to belong in Haddington. She misses their old life and feels hopeless about their future in Virginia. Her statement reflects her belief that the Paos cannot belong in Haddington.
However, Evan’s discovery of Joseph Pierce changes his perspective. Learning that Asian soldiers fought in the Civil War gives him a sense of pride and connection. Although he knows he is not related to them, Evan says, “I’m just happy that there’s someone who looks like me” (87). This discovery helps him feel like he has a place in the story of American history, countering the exclusion he feels in Haddington.
The council meeting about the Confederate statue further highlights the racism in Haddington. When Evan and Joe walk into the meeting, the attendees immediately stare at them. One councilman, Thomas Byrne, assumes they are in the wrong place and explains the meeting’s purpose to them. When they clarify that they know, he dismissively says, “Takes all kinds, I guess” (71). This subtle comment reinforces the idea that Evan and Joe do not belong.
Despite the hostility, Evan speaks up during the meeting. He challenges the argument that removing the statue would erase history. He explains, “Knowing that people looked like me, during the Civil War, that means something. […] But when you have a statue, it’s like one idea about who fought in it is stuck in concrete” (74). Evan’s statement highlights the importance of representation and how public symbols like statues shape collective memory. By only showing one perspective, the statue erases the contributions of other groups, such as Asian soldiers, and reinforces a narrow, biased view of history.
These chapters also show the difference in how Evan and Celeste cope with the challenges they face. Celeste focuses on what they lost and expresses her frustration openly. She critiques the injustices in their school and community, such as the heirloom project and Luke’s misguided admiration. Evan, on the other hand, tries to adapt and find a way to fit in. His discovery of Asian soldiers in the Civil War gives him a sense of belonging, even in a place that often feels hostile.
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