Content Warning: The section of the guide discusses substance abuse, drug violence, anti-gay bias, child abuse, sexual abuse, incarceration, and bullying.

The Quest for Belonging links the narratives, as each teen character battles to find a space where they fit in and feel supported. With Stephie and Dontay, the search for acceptance centers on their feelings. Their spaces aren’t inherently precarious. Staying at their respective home doesn’t make them vulnerable to abuse or predation, but Stephie and Dontay uproot themselves because they feel at odds with their environments. Stephie can’t reconcile her pregnancy with her home, which she sees as a synonym for perfection. Dontay leaves his home due to his constant sense of marginalization. About his foster family home, Dontay says, “I feel like I’m beggin’ if I ask for a ride” (8). Stephie and Dontay return to their respective homes, proving that they were tenable spaces. Keesha, Katie, Harris, and Carmen are in spaces where they can’t safely exist. Harris can’t stay at his home since his dad kicks him out. Keesha and Katie’s homes are abusive spaces. Carmen doesn’t belong in the bleak juvenile-detention center.