56 pages • 1 hour read
Maria PadianWrecked
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2016A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 7-9
Chapter 7 Summary: “Haley”
The italicized section before Chapter 7 describes the early moments of young college students who are ready to “melt into music” on a Saturday night.
After leaving the café, Haley feels embarrassed by her small behaviors, thinking that this is why “she’s never had a real boyfriend” (68), though she had been blaming it on soccer until this point. Lost in her thoughts, Haley is surprised by a text reminding her about a meeting she had promised to attend with Jenny, which she is almost late to.
When Haley arrives, she and Jenny go upstairs to the Dean of Students Office, where they are scheduled to meet with Carole Patterson, the person who will coordinate the investigation. Haley feels awkward and confused as the meeting starts. Carole talks with Jenny about the steps of the case, explaining that the accused will have a chance to provide his own statement. Jenny is emotional as she describes her father’s insistence that they file a police report, which she doesn’t want to do. As Haley watches the conversation, she reflects on how “the pixie-cute Jenny of early September had devolved into an unkempt mess” (73).
The purpose of the meeting becomes painfully clear to Haley as Carole begins to explain Haley’s intended role: to be Jenny’s advisor during the case. Though this role is typically given to an adult, Jenny has specifically requested having “a friend in there with [her]” (75). Haley is stunned by the request and doesn’t know how to respond, especially after Carole explains the strict parameters about keeping everything about the case confidential. Despite saying that she doesn’t think it’s a great idea, Haley agrees to do it, feeling that she has been put in a bad position.
Chapter 8 Summary: “Richard”
Before Chapter 8, the italicized portion of text again focuses on Brandon Exley, in front of a crowd of boys, concocting a large batch of a mixed drink made out of beer, lemonade, and vodka.
Chapter 8 begins with Jordan interrupting Richard in his room, where he has been working on a paper. Though normally Jordan would be drinking on a Wednesday night as part of a house ritual that Richard mostly abstains from, tonight Richard is surprised to find Jordan completely sober. Jordan begins explaining that the girl he told Richard about is “telling people [he] raped her” (82). Richard listens as Jordan explains having a meeting with Carole Patterson and Richard notes that “he smells like fear” (83).
Richard asks Jordan what he’s going to do. Jordan has already met with his parents and his uncle, who is a lawyer. The uncle thinks Jordan should withdraw, but Jordan is determined to “tell Carole Patterson, in writing, that [he] didn’t rape Jenny James” (85). The reason for Jordan’s visit to Richard’s room becomes clear: Jordan needs Richard not to tell anyone that Jenny and Jordan had sex. Richard agrees not to share the information publicly but maintains that if he’s “asked what [Jordan] told [him]” (87) he will tell the truth.
Chapter 9 Summary: “Haley”
Before Chapter 9, the italicized section describes Jenny in an unfamiliar room on her hall with a group of girls. One of them, Tamra, takes out a bottle of liquor for the “pregame” (89).
Chapter 9 opens on Haley returning to her room and discovering that Carrie and Gail are there, but Jenny has left to run an errand. Haley feels frustrated that her space is being taken up, though she knows “this isn’t fair” (91). The whole situation feels so overwhelming for Haley that earlier that week she had called her mom and talked through the whole situation, even though this is atypical. Haley was surprised to find her mother just listening to her, yet as soon as Haley had told the story, her mother had made several inappropriate suggestions, including that Haley should switch rooms. Haley ignored her mother’s advice.
In her room, Haley talks to Gail and Carrie about the case; they are enthusiastic about her new role as Jenny’s advisor. Feeling tired of talking about it, Haley tries to take a nap, but Gail and Carrie begin discussing Richard, so Haley sits back up and listens. Carrie describes Richard’s stalking behavior, but Gail defends him, describing Carrie’s “effect” on men. Finally, Jenny comes back to the room, and the two older women leave.
Chapters 7-9 Analysis
One of the core themes that begins to emerge in Wrecked is the role of parents in the lives of young adults. Each of the college students deals with their family dynamic differently. Padian paints this picture with care, representing both the tensions caused by having newly long-distance relationships as well as some of the conflicts that can happen as young adults flex their independence. Both Richard and Haley experience challenges as they try to deal with things on their own but find that their parents want to be involved (or necessitate being involved). Similarly, Jenny wrestles with how to follow her own path while adhering to her father’s intense expectations for what she should do. Even Jordan encounters adult resistance to his plans. Padian’s exploration of the many ways that young adults navigate their new relationships with their parents is an important thread of the plot of Wrecked.
Although Padian splits the narrative perspective of the novel equally between Richard and Jenny, Wrecked still follows an interesting chronology that privileges Jenny’s perspective. This is a critical structural aspect of the text because of how it shapes readers’ understanding and emotional response to the rising conflict caused by the rape case. By centering Jenny’s story, Padian makes it easier for readers to identify with the young woman, while simultaneously characterizing Jordan, through Richard’s perspective, as less likeable and more sinister. To demonstrate the extremely harmful toll of sexual assault, Padian encourages readers to empathize with Jenny before presenting other information. This decision allows readers to follow along as Richard engages in some critical unlearning as he begins to uncover some of the truth about what happened.
One of the other ways that Padian highlights the devastating nature of rape is through her portrayal of the disruption to Haley’s immaturity and innocence. In the opening chapters, Haley is self-centered and naïve: she doesn’t notice or care that Jenny is upset or acting differently. Carrie’s character provides a sharp relief to Haley in these chapters, as Carrie supports Jenny and identifies behavioral changes that are the result of experiencing a rape. As the novel’s conflict develops, Haley is challenged to begin thinking about Jenny’s situation differently. In Chapter 7, Haley observes how “unkempt” (73) Jenny has become, along with several other shifts in her appearance and demeanor. This is an important learning experience for Haley, and Padian intentionally includes these details to teach other readers about some of the key signs that someone might have experienced a traumatic assault. Through Haley’s shift in understanding, other people might learn to respond differently if they are in a similar position.
