53 pages • 1 hour read
Maria PadianOut Of Nowhere
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2013A 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 15-21Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 15 Summary
Tom’s girlfriend, Cherisse, visits him at his house to watch Survivor. Tom’s Aunt Maddie joins them, which leads to an awkward viewing experience. Tom feels an increasing sense of emotional distance from Cherisse, acknowledging that his attraction to her is only physical.
Aunt Maddie takes an interest in Tom’s volunteer work at the K Street Center; this leads to a conversation about cultural differences, specifically about the Somali community’s religious aversion to dogs. Cherisse mocks this belief, prompting Aunt Maddie to point out the inconsistencies in Cherisse’s Catholic faith. The situation escalates when Cherisse, offended, calls Aunt Maddie a “bitch” to Tom. This incident makes Tom realize he must end his relationship with Cherisse.
Chapter 16 Summary
Saeed shares with Tom that as a refugee, he does not know his actual birthday. He explains that many people in refugee camps, including himself, have their birthdays officially recorded as January 1.
Tom visits the K Street Center and encounters Samira, who updates him on her new role as the manager of the girls’ varsity soccer team. Their conversation shifts to the alphabet book project intended to help Abdi, which both Tom and Samira are involved in. Curious about the birthday issue raised by Saeed, Tom asks Samira why many Somalis don’t know their actual birthdays. She confirms Saeed’s statement, explaining that refugees from the camps are typically assigned January 1 as their birthdate.
Chapter 17 Summary
Tom’s anticipation for his date with Myla takes an unexpected turn when Myla invites Samira to join them at a Somali restaurant. When Tom and Myla are alone, Tom jokes about the mayor’s controversial letter addressing Somali immigrants, upsetting Myla due to the seriousness of the topic. Myla demands that Tom leave her car. Tom and Myla engage in an argument, during which Tom reveals his feelings for her. The intensity of the moment overwhelms Myla, leading her to tears. Tom comforts her, and they share a kiss, after which Myla invites Tom back to her dorm.
Chapter 18 Summary
In Enniston, tensions rise following the mayor’s letter to the Somali immigrants, leading to public marches and media attention. The United Church of the World intervenes, believing that the white residents of Enniston need assistance in dealing with the situation.
Tom, meanwhile, is preoccupied with the challenge of the upcoming soccer game versus Maquoit during Ramadan. In discussions with Myla, he delves into the complexities of Muslim practices and adherence levels, learning that devout Muslims like Saeed wouldn’t likely compromise their fast for a game.
To gain more insight, Tom and Mike attend a cross country meet where a Somali runner, Ali Suleman, competes while observing his Ramadan fast. Ali’s determination is encapsulated in his statement, “Ramadan is pushing me, but I push back! I push back!” (199). Tom decides against asking the Somali soccer players to break their fast for the match.
Chapter 19 Summary
On the day of the soccer match with Maquoit High School, Tom breaks up with Cherisse, explaining he’s seeing someone else. The game attracts a large crowd. All the Somali players, including Saeed, are in the midst of their Ramadan fast, abstaining from food and water.
As the game begins, Tom notes Alex Rhodes’s nervousness, feeling optimistic. Saeed scores early, but Maquoit ties the game 1-1, leading to penalty kicks. In a decisive moment, Saeed scores the final penalty, clinching victory for Chamberlin. Amidst the celebration, Tom and Myla reunite with a kiss.
Chapter 20 Summary
Following the soccer victory, journalist John LaVallee from Enniston’s City Cryer interviews Saeed and Tom at school. LaVallee’s focus during the interview shifts to probing questions about Saeed’s past, particularly regarding his age and birthday.
The soccer coach reveals that there are challenges to the eligibility of the immigrant players on the team. A campaign to remove these players from the soccer field is gaining momentum, spearheaded by Alex Rhodes’s father, who is a lawyer.
Chapter 21 Summary
Tom takes Donnie to the K Street Center to help with his service hours, where he meets Samira. Tom initiates a meeting with Alex to discuss his father’s challenge to the Somali soccer players’ eligibility. Tom emphasizes that since the players have green cards with their birthdays listed as January 1, questioning their eligibility is pointless.
Alex, in turn, admits to Tom that he wants a fair competition, which includes having the Somali players participate. Alex reveals that while he personally disagrees his father’s actions, it is his father who is driving these challenges, not him. Tom also shares a personal detail with Alex, confessing that financial constraints prevented him from playing with the United Maine club.
Chapters 15-21 Analysis
In Chapter 15, Tom’s realization that he needs to end his relationship with Cherisse marks a decisive transformation in his character development. This decision reflects his growing dissatisfaction with their connection and his discomfort with her behavior, especially regarding cultural sensitivity and respect. The fight between Cherisse and Aunt Maddie serves as catalyst for Tom to reassess his personal values and break up with Cherisse. Tom’s maturation leads him to seek a deeper connection with Myla, who aligns more closely with his evolving values and heightened sensitivities. His increased involvement with the Somali community and newfound social awareness attract him to Myla, who shares these concerns, and their relationship begins to blossom.
In Chapter 16, Saeed reveals to Tom that he does not know his actual birthday. This is an instance of foreshadowing, as this revelation later prompts an investigation into the Somali players’ eligibility. Saeed explains that many people in refugee camps, including himself, have their birthdays officially recorded as January 1, the standard birth date. This administrative measure has significant implications: It symbolizes the loss of personal identity and history for refugees. January 1, the first day of the new year, ironically marks the diminishment of personal milestones in these refugees’ lives. This narrative element is key to understanding the challenges refugees face in maintaining their identities amid displacement. It ultimately conveys the overarching theme of the difficulties associated with integration.
In Chapter 17, Myla and Tom engage in a heated argument regarding the Mayor’s letter, which has significantly heightened tensions in Enniston. This letter, directed toward the Somali community, has sparked public marches and garnered media attention, leading to the involvement of the United Church of the World, an organization known for its white supremacist views. John LaVallee, the journalist for the Enniston newspaper, interviews Saeed and Tom, serving as a catalyst in unraveling the complex role of media in shaping how the community perceives and responds to these events. The Mayor’s letter and the subsequent reactions serve as a symbol of hostility toward cultural diversity within certain segments of the community, emphasizing the novel’s theme of Cultural Diversity and Integration as it unveils the town’s underlying racial prejudices. Alex Rhodes’s father becomes a symbol of the hostility to integration, as he legally contests the eligibility of the Somali soccer players. Alex’s own conflict, caught between his father’s actions and his personal beliefs, reflects the internal struggles within individuals due to family and societal pressures. This subplot not only accentuates the tensions around the integration of immigrant players in the school’s sports teams but also mirrors wider societal debates on immigration and inclusivity in community life.
In the face of these challenges, Tom takes a protective stance toward his Somali teammates by scheduling the meeting with Alex Rhodes in Chapter 21. This act showcases his agency and loyalty, embodying the theme of Friendship Across Cultural Divides. Tom’s meeting with Alex serves as an example of his willingness to stand up for the Somalis. As with his participation in the alphabet book project, which both Tom and Samira are involved in, this meeting signals a deepening collaboration and understanding between Tom and the Somali community. Tom also seeks to understand more about Saeed’s culture and religion. As Ramadan approaches, Tom becomes curious about its significance and the reasons behind the Somalis decision to fast. Along with his friend Mike, Tom attends a cross-country meet to witness firsthand the determination of a Somali athlete. The athlete’s resolute statement, “Ramadan is pushing me, but I push back! I push back!” serves as a testament to the dedication of Somalis to their religion while also signifying a step toward integration by participating in American sports (199). Reflecting on what he’s learned and observed, Tom decides not to ask the Somali players to break their fast for the upcoming game. This decision shows Tom’s growing respect for the cultural and religious commitments of his teammates. It illustrates his evolving sensitivity to the diverse backgrounds and beliefs within his community.
