Chapter 17 Dreamland Burning thesis

Chapter 17 is “Rowan.” Rowan is driving to work the next day when she sees Arvin. He shouts and rushes toward her car, but Rowan panics and drives away. She admits to herself that “Arvin seemed harmless and sweet in the clinic, (but) he made me nervous out on the street” (138). Rowan is ashamed of her reaction. She talks to Truman about Arvin and learns he is homeless and sometimes spends hours at the clinic to take advantage of the air conditioning.

That afternoon, Rowan goes to James' house and they apologize to each other. They begin doing more research, trying to identify the skeleton. Based on the receipt, they believe the skeleton must be either J. Goodhope or someone with the initials W.T. Rowan reveals that Geneva cleaned the gun and found the word “Maybelle” engraved on the barrel. They go through possible scenarios but come up with no theories that make sense.