The Importance of Friendship

Throughout the novel, the characters demonstrate that they are highly dependent on their friends, and that makes friendship one of the most important themes of the novel. Depending on the characters involved, each friendship varies. However, each tends to meet specific needs and to help characters through difficulties.

The theme is introduced in the opening scene as Jasmine and TJ are preparing to walk home from school. The author takes time to define their relationship, which is somewhat different because Jasmine is a girl and TJ is a boy. Though some people say that a boy and girl cannot be best friends, they clearly are. Jasmine initially says that TJ is her “best friend who's a boy” (2), but she does not have any close friends who are girls, which makes TJ “her best friend best friend” (2). The repetition of the words “best friend...