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Chapter 13
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Such a Fun Age, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
External Behavior vs. Internal Truth
White Guilt, Ignorance, and Redemption
The Quest for Meaning
Race, Class, and Privilege
Summary
Analysis
Emira has to stop herself from laughing when she sees Mrs. Chamberlain’s face. She’d had to do the same thing five months ago when they first met and Emira ended up being “much darker” than the person Mrs. Chamberlain had imagined Emira to be. Now, though, Emira hears Kelley call Mrs. Chamberlain “Alex,” and it's clear that something strange is going on. But before Emira can find out more, Mrs. Chamberlain’s friends are all over her. After the women head upstairs, Emira greets Briar, saying “Hey, pickle.” Briar hugs Emira, and Emira introduces Briar to Kelley. Kelley pretends that he’s three years old, which makes Briar giggle. Emira is happy they’re getting along.
That Emira can discern from Alix’s aghast facial expression that something is up further reinforces how much Kelley’s appearance has caught Alix off guard and robbed her of her ability to control the situation. When Emira greets Briar, “Hey, pickle,” she uses a pet name and shows more love and affection for Briar than Alix has the entire novel.
Themes
Just as Kelley is about to pull Emira aside to talk, Tamra comes between them and asks Emira to help her with something in the kitchen. Emira follows Tamra into the kitchen. Once there, Tamra asks Emira to help her fold silverware into napkins. Emira agrees, but something seems off: the napkins don’t match the rest of the décor, and there’s no way Mrs. Chamberlain wouldn’t have completed this task before guests arrived. As they work, Tamra asks Emira about her natural hair (Emira wears her hair in braids now) and talks about what she uses on her daughters’ hair. Emira is used to well-meaning white hosts throwing Black guests together, but Tamra seems to be talking to Emira of her own volition.
Tamra continues to bond with Emira over their racial identity, just as she did when Emira first walked in the door. That Emira is immediately wary of the unfolded silverware further reinforces both how Kelley’s unexpected appearance has robbed Alix of her sense of control, as well as how much control and appearances are part of Alix’s identity in the first place.
Themes
After Tamra finishes folding the silverware, Emira brings it downstairs. She runs into Kelley and apologizes for the weirdness. Kelley, clearly uncomfortable, tells Emira to check her phone. Emira does this and finds a string of texts from Kelley informing her that Mrs. Chamberlain is his rich girlfriend from high school; his last text says, “I DON’T WANT TO BE HERE ANYMORE.”
In another blow to Alix’s ability to control her surroundings, it’s Kelley who tells Emira about his and Alix’s relationship, not Alix. So, needless to say, Alix’s mission to officially make Emira one of the family on Thanksgiving has been severely compromised.
Themes
