Themes

__**ALCOHOLISM**__ In the Walls' family, they are affected by drinking. They are surrounded by it everywhere they move, even when they move to Welch, where Rex grew up: His mom drinks. This habit winds up putting the family out of money and looking to the streets for food. When Jeannette wants one thing for her birthday, it's to have her dad stop drinking, which is heartbreaking, and he relapses soon after he stops.

Throughout this whole book, greed takes place. No matter what town their in, their surrounded by greed, if their family isn't portraying it themselves. The mother, the father, their neighbors, and the adult role models in their lives take part in things that ends up in life-altering effects for theses kids.
 * __GREED__**

__**FORGIVENESS**__ Even though the mother eats chocolate and hides it when her children sit starving and digging through trash to survive, and Rex spends the money on alcohol that should be spent on bills, food, and the basic needs of survival.

Even though the Walls' children know their barely getting by, it's their parents they feel sorry for. Their father relapses constantly from drinking and never seems to quit, which then leads to him and Rose Mary getting in numerous fights, both physical and verbal.
 * __COMPASSION__**

When the kids knew that they had to survive on less food, which they were doing to the point where kids at school called them names like "Spider Legs," "Two By Four," and "Bean Pole," they accepted it and knew it'd be easier then choosing to fight with their parents. They knew the whole family needed a wake-up call, but chose not to say anything to make sure everyone stayed "happy".
 * __ACCEPTANCE__**

Though the family as a whole knows it's falling apart slowly, everyone carries on like nothing's wrong. This helps them get through rough times, which there are a lot of. This family's combined strength gets them far, even though they could go farther with their lives. Not to mention, no matter where their kids are, Rex and Rose Mary always follow.
 * __FAMILY__**