But sometimes, looking in that mirror, he had no idea who he was or why he was in this world.
-- Narrator (chapter 1)

Importance: Appearing in Chapter 1 within Miah's narrative, this passage acts as a template for his questions and exploration regarding his identity throughout the novel. As a young black man from Brooklyn, Miah works to understand who he is and who he is capable of becoming, within the context of his family, his new school, and his relationship with Ellie.Because Miah's parents have had successful artistic careers, appearing frequently in the social limelight, Miah wants to establish an identity for himself that is not dependent on their lives. While he is proud of his parents' work and understands how it is important to them, he does not want find success and fame for himself merely because his parents are famous. When he starts school at Percy Academy, he does not even...