As a bildungsroman, the novel’s primary theme is the transition from innocence to experience. Protagonist Jason Taylor must confront and overcome complex obstacles to thrive, both in his social life at school and in his private life at home.

The novel begins just before Jason’s family undergoes a period of significant upheaval. The ringing phone in Chapter 1 foreshadows his father’s infidelity; his mother’s decision to return to work and his sister Julia’s imminent departure for college further foreshadow the family’s disintegration as a unit in later chapters. As his father’s many flaws come to light, Jason grows disillusioned, which marks a key milestone in his burgeoning maturity, as every child must one day confront their parents’ flaws and imperfections.

Meanwhile, at school, Jason endures bullying from his classmates. Though they treat him poorly, Jason idolizes them as cool boys. The more Jason tries to emulate their behavior, however, the more he realizes he’s just not like them. This is seen when he throws up after smoking a cigarette to appear cool to his cousin Hugo, and when he goes back for Moran despite the Spooks’ warning that he’ll never become one of them if he does.