The Bone Sparrow: Chapter 17 Summary & Analysis

Nasir died earlier. Subhi is sitting in the corner, waiting for Jimmie and thinking about it. It didn’t feel real when Harvey told him, and Harvey hugged Subhi in response (which he’s not supposed to do). Then, Harvey said that tonight, there will be a new star in the sky, and it’ll be Nasir looking out for Subhi. Harvey then led a new boy to Nasir’s bed. The boy looked like a “head-whumper,” so he’ll probably keep everyone up all night. Subhi told him that Nasir died in that bed earlier, and the boy ran and cried at the fence. Maá didn’t move when Subhi curled up with her. Subhi is sad that Nasir died here. He never got out. But Subhi is also sad for himself: Nasir never called Subhi “Aussie Boy” like other people do.

Subhi notices Jimmie’s flashlight and considers not flashing back. He does, though, and Jimmie knows immediately that something is wrong. She just pours Subhi some hot chocolate. After a long while, Subhi shares what Harvey said about people turning into stars when they die. Jimmie points out a bright one above them. Then, she pulls a phone out of her pocket. The screen says “EMERGENCY ONLY” at the top. Jimmie presses buttons and a picture of a white rat appears. It’s her pet, Raticus. Subhi’s face falls. He admits that he killed a baby rat once. Now, all the other rats here hate him. Jimmie suggests leaving them chocolate to say sorry. She then shows Subhi pictures of her house, the garden, her bedroom, and a bathroom. She pulls up pictures of her dad, Jonah, and trees Outside. Then, she pulls Subhi in so they can take a selfie.

Jimmie then pulls the book out of her pocket and asks Subhi to read just a little bit. The story picks up with the soldiers arriving at night. By morning, only Oto and Mirka are left alive; everyone else has been murdered or marched away. Mirka nurses Oto back to health and then gives him the Bone Sparrow necklace. She tells him that the Sparrow will recognize Anka’s soul and gives him directions to find Iliya, a healer and her grandson in the mountains. Oto thinks of Anka and his unborn baby as he searches for Iliya. The same wind that brushes Oto’s face later brushes Anka’s, and she smiles as she feels his tears on her cheek.

Subhi closes his eyes and can feel the wind, which has perhaps brushed his ba’s cheeks. He opens his eyes to Jimmie putting the Bone Sparrow in his hand. It’s hot—and Subhi is certain Queeny is wrong. Maybe the sparrow on his bed was keeping him safe. Jimmie says she has to leave, and she invites Subhi to join. He refuses, but she insists on showing him the weak spot in the fence anyway. Subhi tells her to be careful, but she quips that she’ll be fine since she’s a kid. He doesn’t tell her about Beaver, or that in here, it doesn’t matter if you’re a kid. Jimmie points out the weak spot, which is 16 steps from a spikey shrub. Sure enough, the fence gives.

Jimmie shimmies under the fence and then Subhi passes her the book. When his hand brushes the dirt outside, his hand feels like it’s on fire. Subhi holds the fence up for a long time, enjoying the air outside the fence. Jimmie whispers directions to get from her house to here, and then she walks to the perimeter fence and squeezes under. The wind begins to blow, and it almost seems as if the wind picks Jimmie up and flies her through the stars.