Eight Years Old Summary and Analysis

In the backyard of the tenement in Boston where Ben and his brother and mother are staying, the boys see rats that are almost as big as cats. Sometimes the rats get into the basement where Ben refuses to go by himself. The roaches are winning the battle inside the living quarters. There are rumors about snakes gobbling up kids that put a scare in the boys. There are homeless men and screaming sirens aplenty. Sonya works all the time in two or three different domestic jobs each day. Despite the living conditions, the family is happy and has a great Christmas. The boys receive more toys than ever before. Ben's favorite toy is a chemistry set, which he plays with for hours on end. Around that same time, he and Curtis came forward in their church...