This chapter is the conclusion to Warrior's Don't Cry. It begins with solving the problem of Mother Lois, who lost her job. To get it back, she wrote an article to the reporters telling them about her dilemma. She got her job back after that, when people all around called the school board saying that what they did was unfair, which I completely agree with. The next conflict was about Ernie's graduation and how the segregationists are trying to prevent it. He did graduate though, and all I could think about was how big of an achievement that was. Congrats!!! The chapter ends with Melba talking about her life after Central (she was also planning to go back next year; I felt proud) and all the awards she received and who she married, stuff like that. She ends it with a quote about God, and I thought it was a great ending due to how much of her religion really helped her get through this.

Both Chapters include much of the character, Link. At first, in Chapter 16, Melba keeps getting calls from him. He tells her things to avoid and is giving her vital information about the whereabouts of those who want to hurt her, and she is deciding whether she trusts him or not. She celebrates Easter, and I found it quite funny that we both gave up Soda for Lent. We are introduced to Nana Healey in this chapter, when Link mentions her during a phone call. I think she's going to be the reason Link is helping Melba because she is also colored. Nearing the end of the chapter, a hearing dealing with the post-poning of integration in Central will be held, and the judge is a segregationist making it an unfair hearing.
In Chapter 17 there is some foreshadowing when Link tells Melba something huge that the segregationists are planning. Link also brings Melba to Nana Healey's and she then decides that he does not have dark motives and that she should trust him (later on Grandmother India does too, which I think is an achievement). At the end of the Chapter, Mother Lois informs everyone that she won't be having a job due to the fact Melba is attending Central. It was the big thing Link was talking about and it has really impacted the story.

In this chapter, Melba returned Link's car, and her family is deciding wether they should trust him or not. Melba starts to trust him, and I think she should. I know he's a good guy because when she asked him why he helped her, he told her he wanted to save her because Andy wanted to kill her, and that just proves my point. Then at school, she is sitting alone at the cafeteria and finds Link with the "sideburners". She also noticed that there were people insulting her and they started throwing things. She continued using her grandmother's advice, which I love because what she says is something I would say. After lunch, she hears Link say, "Hey, I'm not gonna stay in detention hall every morning for a week just for a little nigger-beating pleasure." She does not like Link anymore. I disagree with her decision though, because I think Link is pretending just so he would save her from being hurt. He did in fact acknowledge her all the time and did help her by giving her his car, and now he's helping by not making the students beat her up.

In this chapter, Minnijiean was let back into the school, but was expelled because students lied about her saying she reacted again. I didn't think it was right and it made me realize the whole unfairness of this deal. Since Minnijean was gone, the segregationists went full force again, and Melba was beginning to feel depressed. She told her Grandmother, and she talk to Melba and helps her become tougher. I really like Grandma India. She's pretty rough but  it shows that she loves Melba and she gives really great advice. Melba started writing down what some students have done to her each day, and she got a name of an attacker, Andy. Her grandmother told her to reply with a "thank you" every time someone harasses her, and she has been doing that to Andy. I think it's a good thing to do, it's not necessarily fighting back, but it is, and it just gets them irritated. I'm just not sure what the reaction is. Will they be surprised and stop after a while, or will they just get angrier? One day she is being chased down by Andy, and is rescued by  a boy named Link, and I'm excited for the future part he has in Melba's story. I think he's a good guy and I hope he helps Melba in future cases.