88 pages • 2 hours read
The Unteachables
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Chapters 18-20Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 18 Summary: “Kiana Roubini”
Kiana still hasn’t told her family that they never formally registered her at school, and she satisfies them with slightly made-up stories about what she’s learning.
On the day of the field trip to Terranova Motors, Jake himself comes out to greet the class. They tour the show room and check out every car on display. Kiana ends up enjoying herself, and for the first time since coming to Greenwich, she feels like she “could be with any class of kids in the country” (157).
After lunch, the kids tour the service department, which captures their interest in an intense way. As they watch cars being taken apart and put back together, Elaine chokes on one of the cookies she stole during lunch. When Barnstorm smacks her in the back with a crutch, he dislodges the piece of cookie, which flies into one of the car engines below. A frantic Jake orders the car to be disassembled and cleaned, and the field trip ends.
On their way to the bus, the kids argue about who should or shouldn’t get a puffy-tail after the day’s incident. After they’ve been on the road for a bit, Ms. Fountain gets a call that there’s “a middle school boy asleep on the couch in the showroom” (164)—Rahim. They go back for him.
Chapter 19 Summary: “Parker Elias”
After a few weeks and several more field trips to Terranova Motors, the kids conclude that Ms. Fountain and Jake are dating. Jake stops by the school more often than necessary, and Ms. Fountain always manages to show up while he’s there. In addition, Jake “has kind of adopted SCS-8” (166)—Mr. Kermit’s classroom. He talks to the kids like none of the other adults do, and everyone, even Aldo, gets along with him.
After Elaine strong-arms a broken machine into working, the mechanics at Terranova Motors get the kids involved with actual repair work. Mr. Kermit also starts actually teaching and giving tests. Some of the kids liked the old room 117 better, but Parker enjoys the new version. After all, they can’t stay in a separate classroom during all of high school, so if things are going to change anyway, they “might as well start now” (171).
Chapter 20 Summary: “Jake Terranova”
On his way to Greenwich Middle, Jake reflects on the cheating scandal. Though he was nearly expelled for what he did, once expulsion was no longer a threat, he moved on without a second thought. Seeing the impact the scandal has had on Mr. Kermit makes Jake feel terrible. Jake decides he would “do anything to make things right” (174). But although Jake has a great relationship with the kids, Mr. Kermit wants nothing to do with him.
Jake arrives at school as Mr. Kermit standing out front. Mr. Kermit’s car died, and he’s waiting for a cab. Jake insists he can drive Mr. Kermit wherever he needs to go. A reluctant Mr. Kermit agrees, and they head to Kingston’s Auto Works to pick up Mr. Kermit’s car. When Mr. Kermit calls his car a “Coco Nerd” and explains Parker’s dyslexia, the mechanic likens Parker’s misreading to an anagram.
Mr. Kermit’s car isn’t ready, but he doesn’t care. The mention of anagrams sparks an idea, so Mr. Kermit has Jake drive him to the bookstore, where he loads up on anagram books. Since the school day is over, they go to Parker’s house, where Mr. Kermit engages in an animated discussion about reading with Parker and his dad. Watching his old teacher, Jake realizes the full damage the cheating scandal caused, and all the potential it squashed in Mr. Kermit. Jake can’t change what happened, but he hopes he’ll “get the chance to make it up” (181).
Chapters 18-20 Analysis
Some of the Unteachables take to Terranova Motors in ways they never do to a classroom. The dealership is very different from the classroom, and students who never feel comfortable in school thrive in its environment, especially after Elaine strong-arms a motor and sets the whole group to be able to help in the service shop. After that, the mechanics no longer see the students as just a group of kids, but realize that they have worth. Like the teachers at school, the mechanics misjudged the kids; however, unlike the teachers, the mechanics see past the kids’ learning challenges and embrace their differences.
Mr. Kermit and room 117 also continue to change. Mr. Kermit adopts the outward behavior of a teacher, giving lessons and tests and stocking the classroom with supplies. More importantly, he finds meaning and purpose in getting to the heart of kids’ learning. As he realizes that anagrams might be key to overcoming Parker’s struggles with reading, Mr. Kermit dives into a new and untraditional style of teaching a student who could learn in a different way. Mr. Kermit reframes Parker’s dyslexia as an opportunity for growth, both for the boy and for himself in terms of curriculum and understanding. Parker can improve his reading skills, and Mr. Kermit gains extra tools for teaching students as individuals.
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