KB's Training Wheels

KB found her father’s body near where her old bike’s training wheels were kept. This is symbolic of the life transition KB faces because of her father’s death. It signals a transition away from her childhood and all that she had known up until that point.

Lottery Tickets

The lottery tickets that Momma used to have KB purchase are symbolic of her hope. The family has very little, and Momma saves all their money for only what they really need, but she does spend some money on lottery tickets.

Sidewalk Chalk

The sidewalk chalk that Charlotte has when KB first talks to her is symbolic of the way that Charlotte’s white family has separated themselves from Black people. Charlotte does not have brown chalk, so KB has to use yellow to color in her skin on her self-portrait. KB has...