Hours after Avery and Jameson connect Tobias Hawthorne’s clue to the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” they go to the Hawthorne House library. Jameson insists that in Hawthorne House everything means something, and Avery reasons that they may be looking for a book whose cover does not match its contents.

The scale of the library makes the task daunting: shelves rise two stories high and contain thousands of books. Jameson treats the challenge as another Hawthorne puzzle, warning Avery that searching every book and dust jacket could take days rather than hours.

Avery and Jameson work in silence through dinner, removing books, checking covers, and reshelving them. As they gradually move closer from different levels of the library, Avery questions whether they are wasting time, and their banter turns toward Jameson’s warning that being seen together at school could hurt her.

Jameson pushes Avery to admit what she heard at Heights Country Day. Avery mentions Thea, and Jameson describes Thea as powerful and socially influential, making him unwelcome at the school. When Avery says Thea told her there had been a girl who died, Jameson grows serious and identifies the girl as Emily, making clear that Emily was important to him.

Avery, sensing Jameson’s pain and regretting the subject, suggests stopping for the night. Jameson blocks her exit only to ask whether they will continue tomorrow, then reveals why their search may take longer than expected: the library they have been searching is not the only library in Hawthorne House.