a northern light by jennifer donnelly summary

(Flashback) Mattie goes to work at the Glenmore to pay for a new mule for her father and adjusts to the new society.

(Present) Mattie realizes that Chester Gillette brought Grace to the Glenmore to kill her.

On a visit to the Hubbard house, Mattie realizes the sexual nature of the relationship between Frank Loomis and Emmie Hubbard.

Royal proposes to Mattie, and she accepts.

(Flashback) Hearing Miss Wilcox fight with an unknown man, Mattie then learns that Miss Wilcox is really Emily Baxter, infamous poet.

(Present) Mattie reads more letters and realizes Grace is pregnant.

After lunching with Miss Wilcox, Mattie is able to earn money by organizing her books and is also able to borrow whatever books she wants.

Miss Wilcox tells Pa that Mattie's been accepted to college, and he's angry with both of them for this news.

(Flashback) When Uncle Fifty visits, Mattie realizes that he can actually help her pay for college, but he disappears before this can come to fruition.

(Present) Mattie visits Grace's body and begins to read Grace's letters.

When Weaver gets into an altercation with a white man at the train station, Mattie considers the power of words.

After Mattie collects Daisy the cow from the Loomis farm once again, Royal kisses her.

Mattie works for her Aunt Josie and asks her to loan Mattie the money for college, but Aunt Josie refuses.

After Pa realizes Mattie spent money she made gathering fiddleheads on herself instead of the family, he hits her in anger.

(Flashback) When Mattie visits Minnie to tell her about being accepted into college, she ends up helping Minnie deliver twin babies.

(Present) Mattie tries to get rid of the letters, but can't.

Mattie and Royal fight about the importance of words.

At school, Mattie receives an acceptance letter from Barnard College, contingent on her high school diploma, but doesn't know how she will attend without her father's permission or the money needed.

While picking fiddleheads, Mattie and her best friend Weaver word duel and talk about their dreams of college Royal Loomis helps Mattie plow the Gokey field, and Mattie's crush on him deepens.

(Flashback) Mattie describes a typical day on her farm with her family, revealing her mother is dead, her brother is gone, and her father is not happy.

(Present) Grace Brown dies after giving Mattie a bundle of letters.

A northern light by jennifer donnelly summary