35 pages • 1 hour read
Stargazing
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Chapters 7-10Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 7 Summary
Christine’s father brings Moon and her mother to the hospital. When he returns home, he sadly announces to the family that Moon has a brain tumor. Because the tumor has been pressing on her visual cortex, she has been experiencing hallucinations (the visions she described) and tiny seizures which are slowly getting worse. Moon is due to have an operation a couple days later.
Christine looks blank, unable to react. Moon’s mother asks for Christine to visit and comfort Moon, but Christine can’t bring herself to go. Moon ends up having surgery without seeing Christine at all. She has a vision of her celestial friends as she is put under anesthesia.
Chapter 8 Summary
Christine’s father notices that Christine seems down and takes her out for shaved ice, one of his favorite Taiwanese desserts from his childhood. Christine’s father lets her sit in the front seat in the car, something he never does. At the table, Christine stares blankly at her dessert, lost in thought. When her dad receives a text from Mrs. Lin that Moon’s tumor was removed successfully, Christine’s fears are not totally quelled. She asks her dad if Moon is going to be different now, and her father answers honestly that he isn’t sure. When he jokes that Moon might wake up knowing how to speak Chinese, it enrages Christine, who runs out of the restaurant in tears. Her father follows her outside and apologizes for being insensitive. He reminds Christine that the past cannot be changed, but that it can be a lesson worth learning. Christine’s father jokes that the shaved ice would make a good color of nail polish, and suggests going to see Moon when she wakes up.
Chapter 9 Summary
Christine goes with her father to visit Moon and is left alone with Moon to talk. Moon is sad that her visions were just hallucinations. Christine tries to tell Moon that she is needed on Earth anyway. When asked why she didn’t come before the surgery, Christine admits that she was ashamed because she left the sketchbook out on purpose. Through tears, Christine confesses that she was jealous of Moon because of all the social attention and fun that seems to surround her. She hoped by embarrassing Moon, she wouldn’t risk losing her to popularity. Moon forgives Christine and they hug and laugh together. Afterward, Moon apologizes for having to miss the talent show and Christine insists that she come to watch.
Chapter 10 Summary
At the talent show, Mr. Pennypacker and the class surprise Moon and her mother by converting the show into a fundraiser for Moon’s hospital bills. Mrs. Lin cries, grateful for everything her community has done for her family. Moon shows off her brand new buzzcut, which is just like Chara’s, and Christine presents her with a custom group jacket featuring one of Moon’s illustrations. The group name turns out to be the Stargaze Muses, and they perform a hip-hop style K-pop dance number to Chara’s song. Afterward, Moon rushes onto the stage and embraces the group with pure joy on her face.
The last page of the graphic novel shows an illustration in Moon’s unique style. Christine and Moon wear their hip hop outfits, Moon sports her new buzzcut, and Christine wears her backward cap.
Chapters 7-10 Analysis
The revelation of Moon’s tumor and need for surgery is the novel’s climax, where conflict reaches a boiling point and comes to a head. The tumor explains Moon’s visions and the way that she would often stop and stare at things for extended periods of time.
The novel continues to show how its protagonist is flawed. Christine, feeling ashamed and responsible for Moon’s seizure at the birthday party, isolates herself from Moon in Moon’s time of need. A montage shows Christine unable to relax or do anything else but think of Moon, yet she cannot bring herself to visit. Christine, in addition to feeling ashamed about exposing Moon’s drawings, finds it difficult to face the prospect of Moon’s death.
Christine fears that Moon will be different after surgery. Moon has the same fear, but the girls are never able to talk about it since Christine avoids Moon. Christine must learn to put her fears and guilt aside, own up to her mistakes, and be the friend that Moon needs. Christine’s avoidance of Moon is due to fear and immaturity. Christine is 10 and still forming an identity. She is also still figuring out how to handle difficult situations. Being with Moon forces Christine to grow, illustrating The Transformative Power of Friendship.
Christine’s father also plays a role in Christine’s growth. He lets her sit up front in the car, which is where adults typically sit. This suggests that Christine needs to be more mature, and that he believes she is capable of it. Food again plays a pivotal role, becoming an important source of connection and comfort. Christine and her father eat Mr. Hong’s favorite childhood dessert, enjoying a father-daughter moment.
Moon is seen standing in the hospital with her mother before the surgery, looking alone in a strange world. Before going under, she sees her celestial friends one last time, as if she is giving them a final goodbye. The illustration fills the entire page edge to edge, demonstrating the way that Moon’s visions seem so realistic and immersive. Moon reaches out for the beings, knowing she will likely never see them again. Her attachment to her visions is as real as an attachment to any living thing, and losing them is like losing a part of herself.
The dance performance at the novel’s conclusion represents the power of Christine and Moon’s friendship, and the ways in which it has helped them both grow. Moon feels self-actualized and comfortable in her skin, reflected by the buzz cut which emulates her favorite star. Christine once again admires her confidence and willingness to be true to herself. The jacket that Christine gives Moon symbolizes her honorary membership in the dance group and how Moon has completed a journey. At the beginning of the novel, she felt isolated. Now, she belongs. The group is named after Moon’s visions as a way to honor and remember them.
Both Christine and Moon have grown in a short period of time. Now that they have each other, they can look forward to the future with confidence and hope.
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