Borders

The idea of the border as a socio-political construct is an important part of the novel. When Britt and Florence are traveling by train into Scotland from England, Florence asks Britt if they will be able to see the border. They reflect on how there is no visible marker in the landscape, that the trees and scenery cannot be distinguished on one side from the other. Britt muses that they may have already crossed and not have known it. Florence, whose status as a migrant and whose family situation has been determined by the arbitrariness of border regimes, is concerned because she does not have a passport to pass into Scotland. Britt tells her that she does not need one for this border – at least not yet! This alludes to the possibly imminent referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom. Britt reveals to her that...