54 pages 1 hour read

Gillian McDunn

Honestly Elliott

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2022

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Part 4Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 4: “Desperation Pie”

Part 4, Chapter 27 Summary

Maribel’s mom, Carla, drives Elliott and Maribel to Maribel’s house, and Elliott notices that it is less formal than it looks from the outside. Maribel gets a snack for herself and Elliott, then Elliott shares his crust idea, humbly admitting that he consulted recipes. He found one for a crust made from almond meal, and they decide to try it. Before starting to cook, Elliott asks for Maribel to put on music so that he can concentrate better. Without thinking, Elliott mentions Dr. Gilmore, and Maribel says that she saw a therapist to help her process her diagnosis of celiac disease.

Maribel asks why Elliott started therapy, and he is uncomfortable but decides to tell Maribel about The Incident. Mark and Kate had told Elliott about Kate’s pregnancy. Afterwards, Mark took Elliott and a bucket of baseballs into the yard to play but got a work call. While waiting for Mark to return, Elliott started throwing the baseballs at the house. One hit a basement window, and he kept throwing them at the window, breaking it. Maribel agrees that it was a bad idea, but she doesn’t judge Elliott.

They resume cooking, putting the pies together and baking it.

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By Gillian McDunn

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