Slavery
The book brutally describes the true realities of slavery experienced by millions of African civilians in the past. Amari lived happily with her tribe before she was snatched away and forced to make the transatlantic journey to become a slave for European nations. Her mistreatment, including her persistent rapes, reveal the horrors experienced by these civilians once they were cast as slaves.
Dehumanisation
Dehumanisation of these normal, happy people into slaves that are made to obey their masters is most prominently seen in the form of Besa, Amari’s fiancée. When she sees him again, he has been disfigured, whipped almost to death and has had his fingers chopped off. He is treated like an animal, for no reason other than the color of his skin.
Friendship
Despite her world being changed for the worse, Amari gets some reprieve from the horror that is her life by forming a friendship with another slave, Afi. Afi guides and advises her on how to approach her life or the things that will happen to her now that she is a slave. Her friendship is necessary for Amari to continue striving for freedom one day.
