Summary

The chapter introducton gives a brief note that "Ironhead" is about "parents with heads made from pumpkins have a baby with a head made from iron." A.J. states he has been thinking a lot about this premise, as well as the plot-line of "Bullet in the Brain" by Tobias Wolff, though he does not give any notes about that book.

Chapter 11 starts at Christmas. A.J.'s mother, Paula, comes to visit, but it is more stressful than enjoyable for A.J. She gifts an e-reader to A.J., Maya, and Amelia. Amelia and Maya are appreciative; A.J. is angry that she would give him a gift that he sees as being a detriment to his business of owning a bookstore. The four share a tense conversation led by A.J. about how things are changing much to A...