The Unteachables

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2019

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-5

Chapters 6-8

Chapters 9-11

Chapters 12-14

Chapters 15-17

Chapters 18-20

Chapters 21-22

Chapters 23-26

Chapters 27-29

Chapters 30-32

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Chapters 9-11Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 9 Summary: “Parker Elias”

The next day, Parker’s mom drives Parker to school because she has a meeting with his grandmother’s social worker at the senior center. As a result, Parker is early instead of being late. There’s no one in room 117 yet, so he goes next door to Ms. Fountain’s room. She offers him a Hershey’s Kiss and they chat about the returned gecko. When Ms. Fountain’s students start to arrive, one tells Parker, “you’re not in this class” (82), and Parker leaves feeling dejected.

In the hall, he finds Kiana crouched outside room 117. Inside, Mr. Kermit is having a heated conversation with the principal, Mrs. Vargas, over the intercom. Mrs. Vargas wants to exclude room 117 from Spirit Week, but Mr. Kermit sticks up for them, saying the principal is “punishing them for something they haven’t done yet” (83). The principal doesn’t change her mind, and the conversation ends. Kiana sees this as proof that Mr. Kermit cares about them, but Parker isn’t convinced.

Chapter 10 Summary: “Kiana Roubini”

An issue with her mom’s film means Kiana will be in Greenwich an extra two weeks. While talking to her mom over Skype, Kiana lets Mr. Kermit’s name slip, and her mom recognizes him from the long-ago cheating scandal. From this, Kiana concludes that room 117 isn’t just “a dumping ground for the rejects of the school” (88). Bad teachers get shoved aside, too.

The next day, room 117 has a substitute. The kids play prank after prank until the irate substitute leaves, saying the class would never “behave for Mr. Kermit the way you behaved today” (93). The kids realize this is true, and Kiana silently understands that this is because, strangely enough, the kids and Mr. Kermit like each other.

The next day, Mr. Kermit is back. Figuring they’re in trouble, the class stays on their best behavior, but Mr. Kermit never says anything about the report the substitute left. On the day’s worksheet, Kiana writes an answer to the essay question for a change. As she hands it in, she tells Mr. Kermit she “can’t wait to hear what you think” (98). Mr. Kermit sets the essay on the corner of his desk, but doesn’t read it.

Chapter 11 Summary: “Barnstorm Anderson”

At lunch one day, Barnstorm reflects on how great it was for Mr. Kermit to get him involved in Spirit Week. As Barnstorm hunts for a place to eat, he thinks a pretty girl smiles at him, but it turns out she is smiling at one of his teammates. Barnstorm realizes that he isn’t really back on the football team, and if he isn’t scoring points, he’s “dead to them” (101). Crestfallen, Barnstorm sits with Aldo and Rahim.

Back in the classroom, the kids find a vuvuzela in the trash. Mateo now thinks Mr. Kermit is more like the Grinch (from Dr. Seuss’s poem “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”) because Mr. Kermit hates noise. Mr. Kermit arrives and delivers a speech about how no one can force spirit on anyone. To Barnstorm, the speech feels like a breakthrough because he’s never heard a teacher say “something that was so completely, totally honest” (105).

Chapters 9-11 Analysis

Barnstorm Anderson is an example of how fickle middle school can be. Last year, Barnstorm was a star athlete across several sports. As a result, he got away with slacking off though teachers noticed he wasn’t doing his work. When he got injured, rather than keep him in regular classes, the school shunted him into room 117. The incident at lunch shows how quickly status can shift in middle school. Not long ago, the girl would have been smiling at Barnstorm, the popular guy and athlete. Now, she smiles at another football player, while Barnstorm’s teammates no longer respect him since he isn’t scoring points on the field.

This theme of feeling out of place recurs with characters as well. Parker feels sad to leave Ms. Fountain’s classroom because it feels so normal compared to room 117. Though she will have to stay there longer, Kiana doesn’t feel like she belongs in Greenwich or in room 117, even if she’s starting to like the Unteachables.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kermit’s actions throughout these chapters show his subtle growth. He fights to keep the Unteachables included in Spirit Week, putting his personal dislike of the event aside to give the kids a normal middle-school experience. Even though he ultimately loses the battle, the fact he tried shows he cares. Mateo updating his reference for Mr. Kermit to the Grinch also highlights Mr. Kermit’s gradual transformation. Squidward remains grouchy throughout “SpongeBob SquarePants,” but the Grinch has a change of heart at the end of his story.