Contents
Nine
Overview
Violence erupts in Garden Heights after news that no arrest is planned for the officer who killed Khalil. Starr’s family shelters overnight, then Seven and Starr risk a morning basketball outing and are confronted by Garden Disciples until DeVante, a King Lord, intervenes. After a parental crackdown, Starr spends the day at Uncle Carlos’s, receives reassurance from her mother about blame and doing right, and reconciles with Chris while still concealing her role as the witness.
Summary
With Maverick staying overnight to guard the store, Lisa orders the kids to stay inside. As night falls, gunfire, sirens, and televised protests and looting sweep Garden Heights. The police chief announces no arrest for the officer who killed Khalil, and the news pushes an unconfirmed narrative about a gun and gang ties. Starr blames herself for not saying the right things to detectives and can’t sleep.
At dawn, Maverick returns unharmed, but Lisa insists the situation will worsen. After a nightmare of Natasha’s death, Seven urges Starr to play basketball at Rose Park. On the court, two Garden Disciples try to rob them, but DeVante, a young King Lord, flashes a gun and chases them off. Maverick publicly scolds and retrieves them, and at home both parents punish them and confiscate phones. Maverick takes Seven to the store; Lisa takes Starr and Sekani to Uncle Carlos’s.
Driving through Garden Heights, they pass marches demanding justice for Khalil. Starr voices guilt, and Lisa recounts Starr’s birth scare to teach that sometimes you do everything right and things still go wrong—the key is to keep doing right. They arrive in Carlos’s safer neighborhood, where family prepares a barbecue. Nana complains about living with Aunt Pam but also comforts Starr, insisting she will be okay.
Chris arrives, worried. Their tension over her recent silence boils over as Starr admits race and class differences weigh on her. Chris asks for a chance to understand because he cares about her. Starr doesn’t reveal she’s the witness but accepts his hand, and they rejoin the family, a brief return to normalcy amid unrest.
Who Appears
- Starr CarterNarrator; grapples with guilt after no arrest, experiences a nightmare, faces park confrontation, receives mother’s counsel, and reconciles with Chris while hiding she’s the witness.
- Lisa Carter (Momma)Protects the family during unrest, disciplines Starr and Seven, and teaches Starr to keep doing right despite outcomes.
- Seven CarterTakes Starr to play basketball, confronts GD threats, gets rescued by DeVante, and is scolded by Maverick.
- Maverick Carter (Daddy)Guards the store overnight, retrieves the kids from the park, and enforces discipline amid community chaos.
- ChrisVisits to check on Starr; they argue about race and class differences, then reconcile. He remains unaware she’s the witness.
- DeVanteYoung King Lord who intervenes at the park to stop GD teens from robbing Starr and Seven; mourning his brother Dalvin.
- Sekani CarterScared during the night’s violence; later plays with cousins at Uncle Carlos’s and lightens family scenes.
- Uncle CarlosHosts the family in his safer neighborhood and readies a barbecue, providing brief respite.
- Aunt PamHosts and manages the grill; the subject of Nana’s humorous complaints, reflecting family dynamics.
- NanaDramatic grandmother who complains about Pam’s cooking but reassures Starr of her strength.
- AvaLittle cousin who greets Starr affectionately, adding normalcy amid turmoil.