The novel sheds light on the complex and often painful experiences of young people navigating the breakdown of their families. Through the eyes of Karen, the protagonist, Blume portrays the ways in which divorce can force children to grow up too quickly, taking on responsibilities and burdens that are beyond their years.

Karen is compelled to mediate between her parents, and she attempts to navigate their conflict and negotiate a sense of peace and stability. Blume presents this as a role reversal, in which the child becomes the adult. Karen finds herself trying to get her parents in the same room, commiserating with Garfa on how to manage their emotions and orchestrating moments for them to see each other alone. Karen also steps up into more adult roles: managing the household, caring for her cat, cleaning up, and looking out for her mother when she’s asleep. She learns about and takes on adult anxieties, such as worrying about whether her family will have enough money to survive or whether her father will pay child support. Even as her parents try to shield her from the reality of the divorce, Karen absorbs tension and anxiety.