Summary

Chapter 10 is titled “Mitch's Going-Away Story,” and it is from Mitch's perspective. Mitch thought he was doing the right thing by allowing himself to be captured to let French get away. Mitch described the rudimentary conditions of the early schools, including the lack of medical care. He came to realize that he was wrong to be “more focused on individual freedom than collective survival” (78). He felt very lonely though there were a lot of other youngsters. Some were “released from their misery,” which he saw as the only kindness available for them (80). He and some others “learned to let go” of their past lives and trust only God. This program was the only alternative to letting “the whole world crumble into madness and violence” (81). His only regret was leaving French instead of bringing him along. He believes things are going to change.

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