Regal-Hi swimming pool

The Regal-Hi's swimming pool is a symbol of the misfortune and challenges of Kiara's life. This symbolism is established at the beginning of the novel when Kiara notes that Dee's ex-boyfriend threw dog feces into the pool when he broke up with her, a somewhat comical representation of Kiara's challenges. Later, the reader learns that Kiara's mother went to prison for negligence after Kiara's baby sister Soraya drowned in the pool, a much darker representation of this symbolism. At the end of the novel, Kiara goes swimming in the pool with Trevor, suggesting that she has put the worst of her troubles behind her and can now find joy.

Rent increase notice

The rent increase notice Kiara finds on her door in Chapter 1 is a symbol of her impoverished circumstances. She cannot afford to pay a higher rent because she has trouble finding employment...