61 pages • 2 hours read
Goodbye Stranger
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Part 5, Chapter 70-EpilogueChapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 5, Chapter 70 Summary: “The Other Door”
Bridge and Sherm carry the boxes of rocks to school on the day of the Talentine show. Bridge says she asked Jamie the riddle about the two brothers, and he said the one question should be “What door would your brother say is the door to heaven?” (261), and no matter which brother you ask either will lie and you will know to choose the opposite. They see Patrick, and he takes Bridge’s box. He and Sherm carry the rocks backstage while Bridge looks for Tab. The entire school is decorated with the Apollo 11 theme, and someone has hung stars from the ceiling inscribed with the students’ definitions of love from the fall assignment. Bridge sees hers but keeps it a secret. Tab asks Bridge if they will send each other flowers on Valentine’s Day in high school. Bridge thought Tab hated the tradition, but Tab says she will send Bridge and Em three flowers each: “Because you’re my friend, and I like you, and I love you” (264). Bridge says with a smile that she will send Tab two of each flower.
Part 5, Chapter 71 Summary: “Singing Her Song”
Since Bridge oversees changing the set and microphone in between acts and Sherm is controlling the lights, they devise a plan to sneak Em onstage after the last act so she can deliver her performance. Em is nervous, and Patrick hugs her and wishes her luck. Em sneaks backstage disguised as Bridge, wearing her tech crew black shirt and cat ears. As soon as Em takes the stage, Sherm controls the spotlight, and when Mr. Partridge realizes what is happening, he adjusts the light to make it less glaring and watches approvingly as Em begins to sing. Em sings beautifully and confidently to the crowd, and Bridge is filled with love for her friend. She realizes life is about loving other people.
Part 5, Chapter 72 Summary: “I Think I See You Too”
Em doesn’t win a prize, but everyone is proud of her performance. Tab made sure her parents and brother were there to see it too. After the show, Em thanks Bridge for allowing her to show her classmates that she still loves herself. Celeste is arguing with her parents at the back of the auditorium; Tab says her sister skipped school and her parents are demanding an explanation, but Celeste says she must do something first. Tab tells her friends she must go home and distract her parents while Celeste runs an errand. On her way home, Bridge realizes she left her cat ears at school, but she does not miss them. Bridge forgot to say goodbye to Sherm, so she texts him and discovers he is just one street over, so she walks to him.
Part 5, Chapter 73 Summary: “Six White Flags”
Sherm takes Bridge onto the roof of his house to look at the moon through binoculars. He admits he was just fooling around about the fake moon landing and admits he believes it to be fact. In fact, his grandfather worked in a flag-making factory and helped create one of the six flags that astronauts planted on the moon. Nonno Gio even named Sherm’s dad Apollo after the mission. Bridge can tell Sherm truly loves his grandfather and tells him he should mail all his letters.
Sherm confesses that on the day of Bridge’s accident, he was sitting on his front step waiting to go to Chuck E. Cheese with his father. He saw the entire accident, and Sherm’s father was the first doctor to attend to Bridge. Bridge is amazed that Sherm’s father touched her heart during surgery. The accident upset Sherm so much that his family had to sell their yellow car, the Bug that distracted Bridge, because it reminded him of the accident. He confesses that he avoided being her friend for years because of his trauma and guilt, but now she is his best friend. Bridge agrees he is also her best friend. Sherm says he is not going to kiss her, and Bridge is fine with that.
Part 5, Chapter 74 Summary: “Celeste”
Celeste meets Gina at her apartment to give her the rose and profusely apologizes for betraying her trust to appease Vinny. Gina is hurt and at first, does not want to hear Celeste’s excuses. Celeste explains that she skipped school and spent all day evaluating her life choices; she wants things to be different and wants to start by prioritizing true friendships like the one she had with Gina. Dropping her guard, Gina says she experienced toxic friendships in middle school and invites Celeste inside to share the entire story. It turns out that Marco never received the flower with the note. Celeste isn’t sure what happened, but she hopes the old Vinny is still in there and silently thanks her for making the right decision.
Part 5, Chapter 75 Summary: “Sherm”
Sherm sends all his letters to Nonno Gio on his birthday and asks him to write or text back.
Epilogue Summary
Two years in the future, when they both know it is the right time, Sherm and Bridge share their first kiss.
Part 5, Chapter 70-Epilogue Analysis
School talent shows allow teenagers to express their individuality and showcase their unique talents so the school’s banning of Em from the lineup displays the disproportionate level of punishment she receives. Bridge and Sherm’s decision to let Em perform ends up being a catharsis not only for Em but for Bridge as well. As she watches her friend boldly face her fears, Bridge resolves her identity issue and realizes her purpose is to love others and shine a light on them when they need it most. Mr. P’s explanation of the lighting metaphor offers Bridge an answer to her big question. Mr. P’s support for Em is another example of the positive influence of adults in the narrative; whereas the administration failed to properly handle the photo scandal, Mr. P steps in to advocate for a student in whom he believes. Bridge symbolically lends Em her cat ears, to wear as a disguise but also to lend her support. Bridge loses the ears after the show and realizes she no longer needs them, a symbol of her growth and an acknowledgment that she can stand on her own without them.
After Celeste’s catharsis, she takes a brave step and approaches Gina in person to confess to her wrongdoing and apologize for the mistake. Again, Stead compels her characters to engage in person for difficult conversations, underscoring the importance of handling conflict face-to-face instead of communicating via text or direct message. Gina is understandably hurt but is ultimately empathetic, giving them an opportunity to start again. Stead leaves the Vinny storyline open-ended but tinged with hope as Celeste learns Vinny never sent the fake card and realizes that Vinny may not be entirely lost.
As Bridge and Sherm share an intimate moment on the roof, it appears to be the beginning of their romance, but instead Bridge learns how the accident left a lasting impression on Sherm and his family. They solidify their friendship, helping Bridge finally sort out her feelings. Stead offers an example of wise decision-making in delaying their exploration of romantic feelings until both partners are emotionally and physically ready to take the step. The novel’s Epilogue provides the resolution to Bridge and Sherm’s story as the reader learns they wait a full two years before deciding to become romantically involved. The moment provides not only a satisfying capitulation to the narrative thread but also serves as an example of healthy relationship building for young readers.
Unlock all 61 pages of this Study GuidePlus, gain access to 8,800+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
Related Titles
By Rebecca Stead
