Bri's Boots

Bri's fake Timberland boots symbolize her emotional state. Throughout the novel, all Bri wants is a new pair of real Timberland boots. Unable to afford them, she feels embarrassed as her fakes quickly fall apart, the soles eventually splitting from the shoes towards the end of the novel. The more tattered the boots, the more vulnerable Bri's character becomes. Once the shoes are unwearable, Bri has to don Curtis's shoes to get home, symbolizing her ultimate need to give up her desire for control and to rely on the help of her friends and family.

Jay's Bedroom

Jay's bedroom symbolizes Bri's fear of the past. When Bri was a child and Jay was using, she used to close herself inside her room for days at a time. Whenever Jay goes back into her bedroom in the narrative present, Bri panics that Jay is no longer...