Chapter 17 begins the second half of Julian’s story, called “After,” signifying Julian’s life transforming after his time at Beecher Prep. Julian spends the summer with his Grandmère in Paris. Grandmère is sophisticated and likes going shopping, to museums, and to restaurants. She takes Julian to movies that Julian knows his parents would not want him to see—she thinks his parents’ sheltering is “too American” (64). She has never talked to Julian like he was a child and isn’t afraid to curse around him. Julian is glad to be in Paris and wants to forget all about his time at Beecher Prep.

Julian realizes that he never got to say goodbye to his teachers, specifically Mr. Browne, his English teacher. Mr. Browne gave the students life lessons, which he called precepts, throughout the year, asking that they send him one on a postcard over the summer. Julian sends him a postcard saying, “Sometimes, it’s good to start over” (65). Realizing that he never told Mr. Browne his side of the story, Julian sends him an email. Mr. Browne replies, telling Julian that he was a gifted student and wrote a meaningful precept.