Cory Kim

AP Literature
Book 4 Summaries
Orleanna
During the section, Orleanna talks about the transition of power from Patrice Lumumba to
Mobutu, as what is believed to be a US-supported assassination. She goes over how it would
make sense, as the outcomes have favored the US. She then ponders over her past choices
that brought her here, and she contemplates whether her decisions were worth it.
Leah
The village holds a vote on whether or not to accept Jesus Christ. The votes are casted in jars
with rocks. Jesus loses by a landslide, with the count being 11 - 56.
Rachel
Leah wants to go hunting with the local men. The idea of this annoys Rachel and the witch
doctor, who doesnt believe women are fit to hunt. This also angers the Reverend a lot, who
was left so angry he beat down sugar canes just out of anger. In the end of the section, Anatole
finds a green mamba in his cot. Luckily he didnt get bitten.
Adah
The night before a village-wide hunt, there is a huge party. The following day, everyone
prepares for the hunt. The plan is to create a giant circle of fire, trapping every living thing
within the burning circle. Even birds were hit by the wall of fire that surrounded them. And all
the hunters waited patiently outside the wall of fire, waiting for any animals that try to run
through the fire.
Leah
During her hunt, Leah kills her first game: a male impala. She is proud of herself for killing an
animal larger than herself, and as she approached it, Tata Ndus oldest son claims he killed it
himself. But Nelson comes in and says he couldnt have killed it as his aim is garbage, and
Tata Ndus salty son Gbenye walks away in anger. But Leah is a little bothered by the fact that
he insult Gbenye by calling him a woman.
Rachel
At first, Rachel is excited to eat some real food. But then is disgusted by the sight of blood and
Leah and Nelson skinning an antelope. She gets really mad and goes home without telling
anyone. She rips off all her clothes and takes a hot bath and sobs in the tub, thinking about
how barbaric her family and the people have become.
Leah

Today was supposedly to be the best day of her life, but then it all went south. During the
sharing of the meat, Tata Ndu, to disrespect Leah, throws the hindquarter of the antelope at her
feet. Unable to control her pride, she picks it up and throws it at Gbenye, which hits him in the
back. Everything goes downhill, as Anatole is disrespected next, who doesnt take it lightly, and
everybody starts fighting over their share of food.
Rachel
In the beginning of the section, Rachel plans to announce her switch to vegetarianism. She
also explores her plans to use her feminine charm to get Axelroot to take them both back to
America. But she doesnt get to tell anyone about it, since the rest of the Price family is already
occupied with arguments. As Leah and the Reverend are arguing, Nelson comes in claiming to
have seen another evil sign. The girls go out and help him set traps around the hen house to
find the culprit,
Adah
The morning after setting the trap of ashes, the girls and Nelson go to the hen house to see if
they caught any footprints. Unsurprisingly they find another green mamba waiting in the hen
house. They also find the footprint of the culprit. The footprint had six toes, so theres really
only one person who can be responsible.
Leah
The odd cry of Ruth is heard by everyone. They find her on the ground, still and silent. At first
they dont understand whats wrong with her. But then Nelson is hit hard with realization, and
finds a snake bite on her shoulder. Immediately he yells at them to find milk of any kind--to
draw out the poison (its actually venom; poison causes harm through ingestion, while venom
reacts in blood vessels//tissue).
Adah
Opening the section with an allusion to Emily Dickinsons poem, Adah turns Ruths death into a
poetic scene. She sees Ruths death as very similar to her birth.
Rachel
The girls just sat in silence, being hit by the realization that Ruth was dead, and that someone
needed to tell their mother. Rachel believes that she, Adah, and Leah, all at the same time,
wished they could just freeze time for another minute.
Leah
Surprisingly, her mother was calm, almost as if it were another typical morning filled with chores.
Leah found herself annoyed at the Reverends only remark, that Ruth hadnt been baptized yet.
Her mother and Nelson end up making a shroud for Ruth. They hold a funeral outside, and as
all the locals mourned, a storm came. The Reverend, for whatever reason, decides it was the
perfect time to baptize everybody.