Chapters 7 and 8 are about sacrifice. First it is because Stacy gets teased and gives his coat to TJ and Mama asks for it. Uncle Hammer gets upset and talks to Stacy. Then Papa comes home and Cassie finds him talking to Big Ma, Hammer, and Mama about using their land as credit.
Also Cassie acts like a slave to Lillian Jean and carries her books and lets her talk (gossip). And one day Cassie says she has a “surprise” for Lilian Jean. She takes her into the woods and throws her books on the ground, stomps on them. Lillian Jean gets mad and hits Cassie on the face. Cassie fights Lillian Jean and makes her promise that she won’t tell or she will tell everyone all the secrets she told. TJ told the Wallaces Mrs. Logan was a bad teacher and got her fired. The kids aren’t friends with TJ anymore.