Group Read - Reconstructing Amelia Segment 2 spoilers welcome

[Ann]

The second group of eleven chapters:
Chapters Kate: November 26 through GRaCeFULLY: October 3rd
The first poster(s) please post a short summary to guide the discussion.

[Ann]

Kate November 26 Kate's time of inability to go into Amelia's room or go through her things is over, the texts that Amelia didn't kill herself have solidified her subconscious conviction that the police were wrong. The strong willed lawyer starts to reveal herself bit by bit, but the grief is making her fall back as much as she gains. We learn a lot about Amelia and Kate and their close relationship as pals and confidants as Kate starts her search. Kate finds four gRaCeFULLY newsletters and learns some things about Sylvia and Amelia that she can hardly believe, they are just high school sophomore girls.
There is more, hate notes, a visit from Adele, a PTA Mom who asks about Amelia's different colored eyes, a genetic disorder.

gRaCeFULLY September 26th Even the faculty of Grace Hall is not immune to the vicious gossip.

Amelia October 1 Amelia has done one of her hazing assignments and zip tied a teacher's bag to his desk; the headmaster, Mr. Woodhouse, is not amused and knows more about the Magpies than Amelia expected. The Magpies have a party at Dylan's house for the newbies to get acclimated after their hazing acts. Amelia is starting to fracture her relationship with Sylvia from keeping secrets and is starting to wonder about the anonymous texts she is getting about her dad (who she never knew, even his name)
And Amelia questions her Mom about sororities, almost deciding to tell her about what is going on, but a work call stops the conversation.
these lost opportunities for Amelia to confide in different people are maddening to me.

Kate April 30, 1998 Kate after Amelia's birth.

Kate June 30 1997 as a summer associate with inferences to something in the past with her friend Seth and someone she admires at Slone, Thayer.

Kate November 27
the dates are critical to understanding what time we are talking about, Kate is greeted by her neighbor Kelsey the morning after her first day back at work. A conversation unlike any they had had before reveals Kelsey's concern at seeing Amelia going into the house with a boy in the middle of a school day a few weeks before her death.
Kate takes Amelia's laptop and electronics to her work IT pal to have the secrets printed out, and a new police detective is assigned to the case, Lewis Thompson isn't going to be as rude or lax as Det. Molina was. Molina's timing for abruptly leaving the force rings a bit odd to me. Perhaps partly from his mishandling of the case Lewis is a homicide detective and dives right into a much more thorough investigation.
Jeremy at work Kate's mentor bestows a major client to her for a reward for her hard work on their account for six years. Office politics are a factor.
Kate and Lew go talk to Sylvia and her Mom. Sylvia is not doing very well, anger is her reaction to Amelia's suicide.

gRaCeFULLY October 3rd no one in the Magpies (or outside the Magpies) seems to be immune from attacks.

[Carol/Bonadie]

I've been thinking throughout that we didn't see much of Kate reaching out to or being contacted by friends to commisserate with her. Except for Seth. Maybe because the book skipped over that mourning period. But it left me with the sense that Kate didn't have any friends and didn't know Amelia's friends or their moms. I think that isn't the case, I'm discovering, although it could be that her work life left so little time for anything that she really didn't. I find that sad.

[Carol/Bonadie]

I was really glad to see the change in cops investigating the case. Lew seems sympathetic and it would be good to have someone on Kate's side as she looks into this. It would be a relief to not have her combat the police AND the school.

Interesting point about the reason for the replacement. I too wondered if the former cop had shown himself to be inept in following up leads and jumping to the conclusion of suicide early.

[Carol/Bonadie]

I am curious about the relationship between Jeremy and Kate. Are they only mentor and mentee? He seems extraordinarily kind, concerned, and helpful. There is no hint of romantic feelings on either of their parts at this point, and yet why do I detect strong feelings when either of them is together or when Kate reflects on Jeremy?

[Carol/Bonadie]

One of the things I would reread if I had a HC of the book is how Amelia came to be part of the Magpies recruited class. I get that she went out of curiousity (although I didn't get that it was about anyone in particular) but why did she stay? Must be my anti-sorority bent coming out, but this perplexed me. I could see if she was friends with one of the current members, but at the start she has no friends in either group -- old or new. And she HAS a friend, Sylvia, who was not invited.

[Ann]

There was a reason Amelia stuck with the Magpies, Carol; but I can't remember where it was revealed with the way the timeline jumped around. We'll have to pick that thread up later to discuss! So glad you are chiming in!!