Revenge is a theme of this novel in two ways. The first is Maxine's decision to get revenge on her boyfriend, Eddie Kuntz. Maxine feels that Kuntz treated her badly during their relationship by abusing her both emotionally and physically. Then Kuntz has her arrested for taking his car when he knew she would have brought it back eventually. As a result of this abuse, Maxine goes back to Kuntz's to punish him and stumbles on counterfeit money.