50 pages • 1 hour read
J. L. Esplin96 Miles
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2020A 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 17-19Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 17 Summary
Stewart wakes John in the morning in the truck cab. The gas ran out last night, and they stopped to sleep until morning. Based on the tally marks on John’s arm, they have 23 more miles to go to the Brighton’s. Stew shows John a piece of paper he found in the truck that has directions to their house written on it; this shows that the men’s robbery was premeditated.
John burns with anger, but notices Stewart’s face is void of emotion and that he’s stopped sweating. When John tells Stew to drink some water, Stew admits that he drank a canteen before John woke up. A canteen is a half-gallon of water. The next moment, Stewart throws up the water on the roadside.
Chapter 18 Summary
John changes his clothes as a nod to his father’s trademark saying: “If you want to have a productive day, get out of the clothes you slept in” (207). He needs to get Stewart to Brighton Ranch, and his goal is to walk the 23 miles remaining in seven hours. Cleverly tends to Stew as Will wonders aloud what could have made him throw up. John says that they need to get on the road, but Cleverly argues that Stewart isn’t ready yet. When John tries to push Stewart to stand, Cleverly accuses John of pushing Stew too hard.
John walks away to cool off, and Cleverly follows. John panics; he can’t catch his breath as the seriousness of the situation crashes in. He thinks of his last conversation with his dad, the Battle Born motto on the flag, and his brother’s words a few days after the blackout—“we’re not completely alone John. We have each other” (212).
Thinking of these words helps John calm his heart and catch his breath. Cleverly reveals that she knows Stewart is sick in a way that rest won’t cure. When she asks what Stewart needs, John replies: “Insulin” (213). The reader learns for the first time that Stewart has type one diabetes and has been out of insulin for two days. He won’t survive much longer without insulin, and Brighton Ranch has the life-saving injections that Stewart needs.
Chapter 19 Summary
The generator at John and Stew’s house had been keeping the refrigerator on and Stew’s insulin from spoiling. The men who robbed them of supplies took more than their food and water; they took the lifesaving medication Stewart needed to survive. When the men left, John allowed himself to feel, for a few minutes, what his brother must be feeling. He then decided that they had to go to Brighton Ranch.
Jess Brighton is John’s age, and she’s also diabetic. John remembers last summer, watching her show Stew how to change the infusion set and cartridge in an insulin pump. He was amazed by her calm demeanor; she and Stew always made it seem like it was no big deal to change the pump every three days. He was struck by how brave and uncomplaining they both were. Jess’s mom had grown up with John and Stew’s mom, but when Mr. and Mrs. Brighton divorced and John and Stew’s mother passed away, the families lost touch. Jess and Stew had reconnected at a summer camp for diabetic kids.
Cleverly tries to delicately ask how long Stewart can survive without insulin. The problem is, John doesn’t know for sure; doctors never actually said how many days. Many variables, like food, water, stress, and physical exertion affect the extra sugar building up in the bloodstream. As John explains this to Cleverly, Stew vomits a second time. John returns to Stew and announces that they have to keep walking, knowing that Stew’s only hope is making it to Brighton Ranch.
Cleverly steps in. She and Will start leading Stew toward the truck, and Cleverly says that Stew won’t be going any father. Will and Cleverly will wait at the truck with Stew while John goes ahead to the Brighton’s. John resists the idea of leaving his brother, but Stew says that although he wishes he could pretend things are ok, they aren’t. He can’t simply decide to keep going; his body won’t let him. This truth finally dawns on John. He realizes that his brother doesn’t want to give up or die; his body just isn’t giving him a choice.
Finally, John sees reason, and agrees to walk to Brighton Ranch on his own to bring insulin back to Stewart. He knows that Stewart had a close call before, when his body went into diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, which can be fatal. As John prepares to go, Cleverly hands him the canteen of water. At first, John refuses to accept it, since he knows Cleverly and Will need water, as well as Stew. Cleverly and Will say they won’t be drinking any of Stew’s water, and John will need water to make it to Brighton Ranch. They also lighten the mood, telling him they expect him to return with “[i]ce-cold sodas and cheeseburgers and fries” (225). Reluctantly accepting the water, John starts down the road; he chooses not to say goodbye to Stew, offering reassurance that he will see his brother later.
Chapters 17-19 Analysis
Esplin shows the power fear has when one lets it take control. It removes the ability to reason and makes one feel alone. When Stew vomits, John cannot see any alternative but to force him to keep going. He is blinded to reality by fear. Cleverly is the voice of reason and comes up with a plan. Even though John resists at first, this is what he needs—someone else, with clearer judgment, to call the shots. John has worked to block out his fear at every turn. However, sometimes his repressed alarm manifests as panic attacks. This time, as one hits, he flashes back to the morning his father left, and to a reassuring conversation with Stew. John is still learning that he needs to rely on his brother and newfound friends rather than trying to carry everything on his shoulders.
Esplin unravels the truth that’s been in the background throughout the novel: Stew has diabetes. This new information is somewhat surprising, yet Esplin has planted clues by showing how Stew is not his usual self. In revealing that Stew has diabetes, Esplin emphasizes the magnitude of the robbery. It is essentially a death sentence for Stew, and explains why he’s been feeling hopeless. Stew is trying to come to terms with his death, which seems like a likely possibility.
Esplin explains the science behind what type one diabetes does to a person’s body. She provides information in pieces as John flashes back to what he learned from Jess and Stew, and when he explains to Cleverly what his brother needs. John’s perspective also emphasizes the maturity that Jess and Stew possess. They are willing to approach their insulin injections as part of their daily lives, and neither one complains or makes it a big deal. This further explores the theme of how Kids Can Do Hard Things.
Revealing the truth about Stew to Cleverly lightens John’s burden and leads him to a realization. Stewart doesn’t really have a choice in what he can or cannot do; his body is keeping him from walking. Stew wants John to acknowledge that and is relieved when John asks how he’s feeling. This shows growth on John’s part, though his character arc is not complete: He doesn’t think he needs help making it to Brighton Ranch, and Will and Cleverly have to force him to take water. John must learn that to help others, one must first take care of oneself.
