The predatory nature of secondary schoolers is infamous and one of the inconvenient facts of growing up. Well-meaning adults forget this at their peril—or, more specifically, at the peril of the youth they oversee. Edward Bloor reminds his readers of the fears and challenges that can consume young people as they struggle to discover themselves and develop their own moral code in the larger world. The relationship between predator and prey is one predicated on fear, and the central challenge of Paul’s burgeoning maturity—his coming-of-age journey—depends upon his ability to overcome his fears. Strikingly, Paul employs the imagery of predator and prey throughout the book, from his encounters with Erik to his understanding of the natural world to his experience with his Tangerine War Eagles soccer team.

The War Eagles are notable for their ferocity, from their name to their style of play. The other teams from the surrounding suburbs have mascots like the Seagulls (Lake Windsor) and the Whippoorwills (Palmetto), decidedly less ferocious and intimidating avian avatars. The War Eagles’ uniform “shows a ferocious-looking eagle with arrows in its talons” (110). They are not only associated with birds of prey, but also with weapons of war.