44 pages • 1 hour read
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
The big man introduces himself as Woltar, and the little man’s name is Lemi. They are members of the Dragon Head rebel group, but they are not enemies of the United States. In fact, they are trying to thwart Brevalov, who has sent a lookalike to assassinate the president by offering him a poisoned snake hidden in a ceremonial box. Woltar and Lemi have been planning to use the kite to infiltrate the White House, jam its defensive missiles, and stop the fake Brevalov from killing the president. While initially doubtful, Wyatt and his friends eventually decide to believe the two men when Woltar and Lemi show them pictures of the real Brevalov. Lemi’s job was to hide under the dragon and use his skills as a fork-thrower to kill the snake, but because of his broken arm, he is now unable to complete the mission. Suzana volunteers to replace him, but she is too tall to fit in the kite. Wyatt, who is the same size as Lemi, offers to take his place.
Woltar teaches Wyatt how to use the commands to steer the dragon once it is in the air. Despite his fear, Wyatt follows Woltar’s instructions and takes to the air in the kite. As he starts gaining altitude, Wyatt is suddenly grabbed by the relentless taxi driver who is still demanding his money. The dragon is now rising higher, and the taxi driver is soon too high to let go safely. Woltar starts guiding Wyatt through a chaotic flight toward the White House, where Brevalov is about to present the box to the US president.
With the taxi driver still in tow, Wyatt follows Woltar’s directions until he reaches the White House fence. Suddenly, a missile erupts from the ground, but Wyatt uses the jammer, and the weapon barely misses the kite. After evading a second missile, Wyatt notices a Secret Service agent about to shoot the dragon down. At the same moment, the taxi driver loses his grip and falls on top of the agent, knocking him down. Suddenly much lighter, the dragon kite swoops and throws Wyatt out, and the boy lands right on top of the president. The Secret Service agents rush toward them, followed closely by Brevalov, who is carrying the box containing the snake. Acting on instinct, Wyatt grabs his fork and throws it toward the box, killing the snake instantly right before a Secret Service agent knocks him out.
Wyatt wakes up in the hospital, confused and worried about being in trouble. Several mysterious people ask him questions, and he is asked to describe the events of the last few days in detail. Finally, the president of the United States comes to visit him and thanks him for saving his life.
Wyatt and his friends have become international sensations due to the onslaught of news reports about the incident. Wyatt is reunited with his parents, who are confused but proud of him, and he is relieved that his mom is not going to kill him. Investigators have realized that Woltar and Lemi are telling the truth, and the men’s story is confirmed when authorities find the remains of the poisonous snake. The president then offers to take Wyatt’s class and his parents on a private tour of the White House.
Woltar and Lemi are hailed as heroes, while the fake Brevalov is arrested. Due to his treason, the real Brevalov is kicked out of office and mysteriously disappears. Wyatt’s dad finally pays the taxi driver, and the school decides not to punish Wyatt and his friends for getting in trouble during a class trip. At the end of the story, Wyatt is back at school and is about to graduate eighth grade. He is trying to gather the courage to ask Suzana to go with him to the prom, but he cannot quite work up the nerve. Eventually, Suzana takes things into her own hands and makes Wyatt ask her out. The story closes with Suzana kissing Wyatt, who comments that he is now almost as tall as she is.
Chapter 21 resolves the theme of The Humorous Effects of Misdirection and Misunderstandings by using a plot twist to reframe the two men’s suspicious activities as noble and heroic rather than nefarious. Although Barry portrays Woltar and Lemi as caricatures of movie villains up until this point, he also easily shifts their characterization into the realm of allies, humanizing them by emphasizing their love for video games and conveying a sense of their general friendliness. As Wyatt observes:
The Gadakistanis […] had discovered Worm Wrangler on Matt’s phone […] and of course they got addicted. […] But they were stuck on this one level […] and it was making them crazy because they couldn’t get past it. So they broke down and asked Cameron to help them, […] and that kind of broke the ice (152).
Once again, Wyatt is forced to act heroically despite his fears, prompting him to later state, “Everything I did was a result of being either completely terrified or unbelievably lucky” (178). The flight over the White House fence provides a suspenseful climax to the boy’s adventure, and the tension of the wild scenario is aptly counterbalanced with the taxi driver’s presence as comic relief.
At the end of the story, the narrative structure of the Hero’s Journey concludes with the protagonist returning to his normal life, having learned and grown from his experiences. This conclusion also fits into the theme of The Adventurous Setting of School Trips in Middle Grade Fiction, since the structure of the class trip roughly parallels that of a hero’s quest. However, despite Wyatt’s newfound fame, his return to normalcy also extends to his initial emotional state. He is still in love with Suzana and does not want to be called a hero, but his humor-laden narration reveals the beginnings of a new sense of confidence. This inner shift is evidenced by his pleased comment about his height after Suzana kisses him, for he smugly states, “She had to lean down a little to do it. But not too much. I’m definitely catching up” (180). Thus, Barry crafts a conclusion that satisfies all the tropes of middle grade fiction and the stereotypical action adventure, for without the help of the adults in his life, Wyatt risks his life, saves the day, and even enjoys a romantic moment with the female lead at the end of the story.
Plus, gain access to 8,800+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features: