Lou now makes a regular habit of reading to her mother. She chooses old magazines and newspapers that cover world events far removed from the mountain. She also makes a trip to the schoolhouse library to borrow a book and gets one for Eugene too. Over the following weeks, she coaches him on his reading to get him through the more difficult passages.

The season advances, and Diamond’s funeral is held. Lou says a few words over his grave as the boy is interred alongside his parents. Later, Lou and Oz climb Diamond’s treehouse to sort through his meager possessions. Lou finds a whittling project that Diamond had been working on with the pocket-knife that she bought for him in Dickens. It is a heart-shaped carving of their initials, “D” and “L.” Even though Lou had questioned Diamond about his ability to read and write, he clearly had known his letters. She keeps the carving as a memento of their friendship.

Shortly after this event, Louisa stages a surprise birthday party for both Lou and Oz. They were born on the same day, five years apart. Cotton gives Oz two baseball mitts and a ball, while Louisa receives a copy of Walt Whitman’s poetry.