Rodney King

Rodney King is a symbol of racial violence and inequity. When the courts fail to convict the officers involved in the Rodney King incident, the city of Los Angeles breaks out into a series of angry riots.

Stanford

Stanford is a symbol of hope and the future. Ashley wants to attend Stanford more than anything else in the world.

Shoes

LaShawn's shoes are a symbol of Ashley's jealousy and cruelty. Ashley starts a rumor that LaShawn stole his new shoes during the riots, but his mother bought them for him after he got into Stanford.

Phone

Phones are a symbol of connection. Throughout the novel, Ashley is attempting to get ahold of Jo through various telephones.

Mermaid

Mermaids are a symbol of magic and imagination. When they are girls, Kimberly tells Ashley she cannot be a mermaid because she is Black, and this starts a...