Diabetes is an important factor in Sarina's life. Her mother is stricken with a severe form of the disease, and since they live in a foreign country, and Sarina's father is absent most of the time, Sarina must look after her mother. She must try to figure out on her own what the disease means and how to protect both her mother and herself from the ramifications of diabetes attacks.

Another issue dealt with in this novel is the notion of what it means to be a family.

In many ways, Te Te and Oldman Jacob serve as part of Sarina's family. Oldman plays the traditional role of protector by standing guard as watchman every night, and Te Te does the washing and cleaning and generally ensures that Sarina is doing her homework and behaving. Sarina's mother, in fact, is largely absent in any parental capacity...