In the novel, Robinet handles socially sensitive issues admirably. Using delicate staging, she identifies the issues of adoption, social status, and racial prejudice with insight and candor. For example, racial bias emerges as the main theme of the novel apart from the historical perspective. Through Hallelujah's viewpoint, readers can experience the lack of self-worth and appreciation that arises from racially-biased attitudes.

Readers can see how cultural biases can reinforce these limitations. Furthermore, they can experience how ordinary people can become heroes in transcending these limitations.

Robinet empowers readers to accept all skin colors, social statuses, and family types as authentic. She employs attitude changes in the characters to enable readers to walk away with a deeper perspective of not only history, but also the devastation that can be caused by these social issues.