44 pages 1 hour read

Kai Harris

What the Fireflies Knew

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

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Part 2, Chapter 8-Part 3, Chapter 10

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 2: “July 1995” - Part 3: “August 1995”

Part 2, Chapter 8 Summary

KB’s grandfather goes on his annual fishing trip with Charlie. KB is hurt when Nia leaves to party with her friends. KB finds Charlotte and Bobby and initially thinks of inviting them into her house, but she is ashamed of how old it is. She instead leads them to a field so that they can look at the flowers and caterpillars, the place where her grandfather showed her the fireflies.

KB tells them the whole truth about her family and why she and her sister live with their grandfather. They respond awkwardly, even though Bobby tries to shush Charlotte, who insists on asking more questions. KB is so upset by this encounter that she asks Charlotte for her bike so that she can run away. KB first goes to the library. When her family first lost their house, they spent all day in the library. Staff members eventually forced them to leave or asked if they needed space in a shelter. The hotel came later.

KB goes back to the pool, where Rondell lures her to an isolated spot that he claims was his safe place when his late father had his rages.