Mental Health Issues
Over half of the characters in the novel have some kind of mental heath issue. These issues are almost always the result of experiences they have had in their lives, or the way in which others treat them. An example of this is Sikhvinder Jawanda, who is bullied by Fats Wall at school and bullied by her mother at home, and as a result self-harms. Cubby Wall also has many emotional and mental challenges; he has obsessive compulsive disorder, has nightmares and also has convinced himself that he has repressed the memory of molesting a child.
Abuse
Simon Price is an abusive husband and father, both physically and emotionally. Krystal is also abused by her mother in that she is neglected, as is her little brother Robbie. Terri's devotion to drugs, which she prioritizes over the wellbeing of her own children, leads to Krystal's rape. Even Sikhvinder is abused, in the form of bullying, and also in the form of verbal abuse by her mother.
Parent Child Relationships
Many of the characters have very challenging relationships with their parents. Simon's son, Andrew, wants to leave home, because he is frightened of his father and despises his mother for putting up with his abuse. Fats also has a dysfunctional relationship with his parents, who adopted him, but this is primarily due to the fact that he does not understand at first the sacrifices that they made for him. When he does realize the circumstances of his adoption, he is filled with remorse for his behavior and tries to make up for his behavior and attitude.
