Samantha McAllister's world crumbles when she uncovers the truth about Caroline Madsen, sending her into a spiral of despair. Seeking solace, she turns to her therapist, Sue, who offers unexpected support and guidance. These chapters mark a turning point for Sam as she confronts her mental health, embraces her true self, and redefines her relationships.
Chapter 36: A New Way to Cope
Alone and distraught after the revelation about Caroline, Sam finds herself on a hill, overwhelmed by emotion. After hours of crying, she calls Sue, who immediately comes to her aid. In a departure from her usual professional boundaries, Sue takes Sam to her home, introducing her to her young daughters, a gesture that highlights the severity of Sam's crisis. In the tranquility of Sue's backyard garden, Sam finally breaks down, confessing her deepest secrets: her discovery of Poet's Corner, her friendships with the Poets, and the devastating truth that Caroline, the friend who guided her there, has been dead for eight years.
As Sam recounts her story, she experiences a breakthrough, realizing that she was never truly led by Caroline. She remembers seeing the Poets walk past and choosing to follow them on her own. "Caroline didn't bring me downstairs," she says, understanding that she found the room herself. Overwhelmed with shame and fear about her own mind, she cries out, “I made up a whole fucking person, Sue!” Sue calmly explains the psychological function Caroline served, revealing that Caroline was a coping mechanism, a manifestation of the qualities—kindness, humor, bravery—that Sam needed in moments of extreme anxiety. This is a critical moment in Sam's understanding of her Mental Health and Illness. Sue guides Sam through an exercise, asking her to list all the things she loved about Caroline. Sam lists nine qualities, from her contagious energy to her snarky T-shirts. The final, most important realization comes with the tenth: “She made me brave.” Sue gently corrects her, delivering one of the book's most important messages: “She didn’t make you brave, Sam. You did that all on your own.” Sue encourages Sam to integrate those "Caroline" traits into her own identity, marking a turning point in Sam's journey toward Finding Your Voice and Self-Acceptance. The chapter concludes with Sue suggesting that, on a subconscious level, Sam wanted AJ Olsen to know the truth, which is why the revelation unfolded so publicly.
Chapter 37: Flowers and Favors
Sam spends the weekend in isolation, grappling with depression in her room. Her mom informs her that AJ came by looking for her, but she protected Sam's secret and asked him to give her space. To process her new reality, Sam creates a two-column list, comparing the facts about the real Caroline Madsen with the personality traits of "her" Caroline. The exercise helps her see that while she borrowed a face and a name, the friend she created was a reflection of the qualities she wished she possessed.
Her isolation is interrupted by a visit from Hailey, one of the Crazy Eights. Hailey arrives with flowers and a sincere apology for not defending Sam during the fight in the cafeteria with Kaitlyn and Alexis. This visit tests the novel's exploration of The Nature of Friendship. Sam is immensely relieved when Hailey mentions that she tried to find her at her locker on Friday but she wasn't there, confirming that no one witnessed her talking to an imaginary person. Hailey laments how the group has changed and expresses fear that Sam is going to leave them. Sam acknowledges that she doesn't know what she's going to do but offers Hailey a place by her side if she does leave. Hailey admits she's too scared of the social repercussions. Before Hailey leaves, Sam asks for two favors that signal a major shift in her identity. First, she asks Hailey to retrieve all her books from her locker so she can avoid running into anyone. Second, she asks, “Will you please start calling me Sam?” This simple request is a powerful declaration of her intent to shed the "Samantha" persona and embrace her true self.
Chapter 38: Caroline's Corner
Sam begins the school week with a new mission: avoidance. She meticulously plans her routes between classes, hides in the library during break, and swims laps during lunch to quiet her mind. The strategy works until she runs into AJ in the hallway. The encounter is painfully awkward; Sam is consumed by shame, and AJ is filled with concern and pity. She can't bring herself to explain and flees after accidentally starting to say Caroline's name.
Later, AJ corners her again. Instead of pressing her to talk, he hands her the key to Poet's Corner. "You never read the poems in Caroline’s Corner, did you?" he asks, telling her to go to the "back right corner" before walking away. The name "Caroline's Corner" is a shocking revelation, creating a tangible link between the real girl from the news article and the secret room that has become Sam's sanctuary. The key and AJ's cryptic instruction give Sam a new purpose. The mystery of Caroline's connection to the room overrides her fear and shame. She realizes she has to go back downstairs, not to hide, but to uncover the truth. The key, once a symbol of belonging to a secret club, now represents a deeper mystery she must solve on her own.
Chapter 39: Every Last Word
Summoning her newfound bravery, Sam enters the theater and descends into Poet's Corner alone. She finds the "back right corner" AJ mentioned and discovers an entire section of the wall covered in poems written in the same, perfect handwriting. Next to them is a wooden box engraved with the initials C.E.M.—Caroline Elizabeth Madsen. Inside, Sam finds a letter from Caroline addressed to Mr. B, the school janitor. The letter reveals the origin of Poet's Corner: Mr. B found Caroline hiding in a storage closet to escape bullying and created the secret room for her. It was her sanctuary. In her final letter, she asked him to pass her key on so that others who needed the room could find it.
Sam is stunned to learn that Caroline Madsen, the girl whose identity she unknowingly borrowed, was the founder of Poet's Corner. She begins reading Caroline's poems aloud, giving voice to the girl she never met. The poems are funny, heartbreaking, and brilliant. The experience is deeply cathartic, forging a powerful, spiritual connection between the two girls. The final poem she reads is titled "Every Last Word," and it's written in threes—the same poetic structure Sam instinctively uses. This discovery is a profound moment of validation and connection for Sam. She understands that Caroline, in a way, did lead her to this room and these people. The room that saved Caroline is now saving her. Inspired and filled with a sense of purpose, she sits on the couch and writes a new poem—for Caroline, for her new friends, and for herself—vowing to be braver with her words and live more honestly. This act of creation marks the beginning of her healing and integration of her "Caroline" self.
Chapter 40: Don't Think. Go.
Feeling renewed, Sam leaves Poet's Corner and drives directly to AJ's house, determined to get the full story and to finally be honest with him, addressing the theme of Secrets and Honesty. She overcomes her OCD compulsions and follows him inside. She asks him to tell her everything, and he recounts the story of how Mr. B created the room for Caroline and how he has been honoring her last wish by passing the key on ever since. AJ also shares his own story: he was struggling with severe anxiety when Emily, another Poet, found him and brought him to the room.
Hearing how this chain of kindness began with Caroline gives Sam the final push she needs. Heeding a voice in her head that sounds like Caroline saying, “Don’t think. Go,” she opens up completely. In a raw, unfiltered rush of words, she tells AJ everything: her OCD diagnosis, the constant internal monologue, her years of therapy and medication, and the complex grief and embarrassment she feels over Caroline. She explains that Caroline represented a better, braver part of herself that she wants to become. AJ listens without judgment. When she finishes, he closes the distance between them, holds her face in his hands, and reassures her. He confesses that he is "pretty far from normal" himself, completely dismantling her fear that her illness would drive him away. He confirms he still likes her "way, way too much." They kiss, and Sam feels the anxious thoughts that have been tormenting her for days finally dissipate. Their relationship is renewed, now built on a foundation of total vulnerability and acceptance.
Key Events
- Sam's Breakdown and Rescue: Sam has a breakdown after learning the truth about Caroline and is rescued by Sue.
- The Therapeutic Breakthrough: Sam realizes Caroline was a coping mechanism and that her bravery was her own.
- Hailey's Apology: Hailey apologizes for the Crazy Eights' behavior and confirms no one saw Sam talking to herself.
- The Key to the Past: AJ gives Sam the key to Poet's Corner and tells her to find "Caroline's Corner."
- The Origin of Poet's Corner: Sam discovers a letter revealing that the room was created for Caroline by Mr. B.
- Sam's Confession to AJ: Sam tells AJ everything about her OCD and her history.
- Reconciliation and Acceptance: AJ accepts Sam completely, and they reaffirm their feelings for each other.
Character Development
Samantha McAllister: Sam confronts her mental illness and begins the process of healing.
- Deconstruction: She deconstructs the fantasy of Caroline.
- Integration: She integrates Caroline's positive traits into her own identity.
- Bravery in Action: She demonstrates bravery by going to Poet's Corner alone and telling AJ everything.
AJ Olsen: AJ's compassion and maturity are revealed.
- Concern Over Judgment: His primary emotion is concern for Sam's well-being.
- Guidance, Not Rescue: He empowers her to discover the truth on her own.
- Vulnerability and Acceptance: He admits to being "far from normal," creating mutual acceptance.
Hailey: Hailey represents a potential bridge between Sam's old and new life, showing loyalty and self-reflection.
Themes & Symbols
Mental Health and Illness: Sam's creation of Caroline is portrayed as a coping mechanism, emphasizing understanding and integration rather than erasure.
Finding Your Voice and Self-Acceptance: Sam moves from hiding her true self to embracing it, culminating in her honest confession to AJ.
Secrets and Honesty: Sam's relationship with AJ is strengthened through radical honesty, while Poet's Corner functions as a space for vulnerability.
Symbols:
- Caroline's Corner: Symbolizes the legacy of kindness and impact.
- The Key: Evolves from a symbol of inclusion to one of history and responsibility.
- "Every Last Word" Poem: Symbolizes the connection between Sam and Caroline.
Significance
These chapters mark the novel's climax, forcing Sam to confront her mental illness and rebuild her world on truth and self-acceptance. The revelations about Poet's Corner reframe the story, elevating it to one about community, empathy, and shared vulnerability.
Analysis
Tamara Ireland Stone resolves the novel's central psychological tension while deepening its emotional core. The narrative shifts from mystery to emotional processing, handling the plot device of Caroline with psychological sensitivity. The use of a first-person unreliable narrator is brought to its peak and then deconstructed, while symbolism bridges the gap between Sam's internal world and external reality.