Part 4 - Chapters 7 and 8 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 7 - William is excited when he hears that the results of his examinations are being released, but disappointed when he discovers that his grades are only good enough to get him into the lowest ranked school. His disappointment eases when he realizes that Gilbert is going to be at the same school. The first few weeks, the entire classroom is filled with excitement, in spite of there being no desks, because the government hasn't purchased them. William is particularly excited by the discovery of Malawi on a map (see "Quotes," p. 123). Soon, however, the effects of the famine are felt, and the class drops in numbers. William himself has to drop out, since his family can't afford the tuition. Meanwhile, the famine gets worse, its effect causing confrontations in William's family and the deaths...