35 pages 1 hour read

Gabrielle Zevin

The Storied Life Of Aj Fikry

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2014

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

Chapters 11-13

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 11 Summary: “Ironhead”

A.J. reviews Aimee Bender’s Ironhead, a book about two parents who have a baby with features different from theirs. A.J. tells Maya that for “obvious reasons,” this story is on his mind (253). He also warns against falling for the logical fallacy called “appeal to tradition,” which claims that something is better just because it is older.

At Christmas, A.J.’s mother visits. She is as different from A.J. as could be—much more open and socially involved. She gets everyone e-readers—an item A.J. has long despised. He likes the physical feel of art objects and doesn’t like that digitalization is reining supreme. He tries to remain calm but asks his mother if she understands that e-readers have the potential to put him out of business. Both A.J. and his mother become upset over the gift, so Amelia steps in and chastises A.J. for being “rude” (258).

Right then, the smoke alarm goes off and alerts them to the burning Christmas brisket. Amelia is confused since she had set the alarm on her phone to avoid this scenario. A.J. says he put her phone on silent because he thought it might otherwise “ruin” the holiday, which leads Amelia to become even angrier and bring up other complaints she has (259).

Related Titles

By Gabrielle Zevin

Plot Summary

logo

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

Gabrielle Zevin

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

Gabrielle Zevin

Study Guide

logo

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Gabrielle Zevin

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Gabrielle Zevin

Plot Summary

logo

Young Jane Young

Gabrielle Zevin

Young Jane Young

Gabrielle Zevin