The Shape of Thunder

Cora hits her head on a rock as she falls, and she is unconscious in the water. Quinn struggles to pull Cora out of the rushing water because Cora is dead weight. With a considerable struggle, Quinn manages to pull her to the shore. She is relieved to find that Cora is breathing.

Cora, disorientated, wakes up in hospital. Her father is there and Cora explains to him what she was trying to do in the woods. She was trying to time travel back to change the events that resulted in Mabel’s death. Cora’s father tells her that Mabel is gone, and Cora registers the finality of this more than she has previously.

Cora’s father makes the analogy that Cora’s grief for her sister will be like an evolving scientific theory, and he says, “[M]aybe you can think about how you’re handling missing Mabel—how you’re coping with your grief—as an imperfect and evolving theory. It’s always something you’re going to have to puzzle over” (322).

Cora suggests that they should try to ensure that what happened to Mabel doesn’t happen to anyone else. Her father agrees but says that it’s complicated—a response that Mabel hates. 

In a letter to Parker, Quinn writes, “[Y]ou’re never going to know how much I hate you. You’re never going to know how much I loved you” (327). Quinn’s parents come into her room. She tells them that they never talk about Parker’s actions or death, that she saw him with the guns and feels responsible, and that she wants to speak to a professional. Her father is short with her, but her mother agrees that they will speak to someone.

Mia comes over with Cora’s homework as Cora is recovering at home. Mia admits that she has always been jealous of Cora’s friendship with Quinn. Mia says she wants Cora to know that she can speak to her about anything, including Mabel’s death or Cora’s feelings for Owen. Mia admits that she likes another boy in their class, Peter. They talk about their feelings for Owen and Peter, and Cora explains that she’s okay not knowing what to do about Owen for the time being and to just be his friend.

Mia leaves and Grams comes into Cora’s room. She brings up boxes and tells Cora that it’s time to pack Mabel’s things away. Cora starts packing, puts on some of Mabel’s lip gloss, and whispers that she misses her so much. She goes to pack away Mabel’s beloved toy penguin but feels overwhelmed and grief-stricken. She calls Quinn and asks her to come over. Quinn assures her that she will be right there.

In a final letter to Parker, Quinn tells him that she will remember both the good and the bad about him: “I think it’s possible for me to love you and never excuse or forgive what you did. I didn’t think that was possible before, but I’m choosing to believe that it is now” (346).

It is November 11, the anniversary of Parker and Mabel’s deaths. Cora and Quinn go to the tree in the woods at Cora’s suggestion. Quinn helps Cora across the creek, even though Cora insists that she’s fine. They reach the tree and Cora digs a hole where she plants violet seeds, because violets were Mabel’s favorite flower. Quinn buries the final letter she wrote to Parker. Cora asks if Quinn will play soccer next year. Quinn says she doesn’t know, but Cora insists that she knows.