The Kid Who Ran for President

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1996

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 2

Chapters 3-6

Chapters 7-10

Chapters 11-12

Chapters 13-14

Chapters 15-16

Chapters 17-18

Chapters 19-22

Chapters 23-24

Chapters 25-26

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Chapters 13-14Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 13 Summary: “A Star Is Born”

The next day, Guerra’s article is in the paper. It describes Judson’s presidential run as an Independent with the “Lemonade Party.” At school, people treat Judson differently—shaking his hand, asking for his autograph, and going out of their way to make room for him in the halls. The principal asks Judson to give a speech at the assembly the next day. Judson agrees, panicking because he doesn’t know how to give a speech. Lane tells Judson not to worry, that he will write the speech for him, but Judson doesn’t calm down. He laments that he started this entire presidential campaign as a joke and that, like most jokes, it got “less funny the more I heard it” (66).

Chapter 14 Summary: “Give the People What They Want”

The next day, Judson takes the stage at the school assembly to thunderous applause. He reads the speech Lane wrote, which blames grown-ups for all the problems facing America and the world. The only way to fix these problems is for kids to be in charge because adults won’t fix the problems they caused. If Judson is elected, he promises his first act as President “will be to abolish homework, now and forever” (73), making the kids cheer even louder.

Arthur argues from the audience, saying homework is an important and necessary part of education. Judson blows him off and leaves the stage to find Lane standing with a reporter from the Associated Press, who’s there to write an article about Judson. Lane is thrilled, but Judson is nervous because, starting tomorrow, “virtually every man, woman, and child in America would know my name” (77).

Chapters 13-14 Analysis

These chapters introduce Judson’s first genuine misgivings about running for president. Up until now, he has gone along with Lane’s ideas and had fun building his campaign, not giving anything too much thought. The principal’s request for Judson to speak in front of the school puts the election in perspective for Judson. He suddenly realizes he has to take the campaign seriously if he has any hope of winning, and as a kid who makes wisecracks and jokes, taking things seriously is not something he does well. The reaction from his peers and the confidence Judson derives from it symbolize how a candidate’s image is partly made up of how others want to see them. Judson’s promise to abolish homework makes him a hero to the kids at his school, even if the pledge is one he has no power to keep.

Arthur’s rebuttal of Judson’s promise shows how a candidate’s opposition comes from more than just the person’s political opponent. Judson doesn’t even meet his opponents until the end of the book, but he faces many adversaries before then. Arthur represents the portion of the population that doesn’t agree with a candidate. Though none of the other kids at the assembly agrees with Arthur, his views can influence others and draw support away from Judson. Arthur symbolizes the many challenges a candidate faces while gaining traction in a political race.