Perhaps the most persistent and integral theme of the book is that of transformation through a metaphorical death. Primarily, the death and rebirth of Casey Gerald forms the explicit justification for the book as a whole. The narrative follows Gerald as he throws himself into transforming from an impoverished Black boy in urban Texas to a symbol of Black male success through an Ivy League education. Ultimately, however, Gerald discovers that his extensive and successful efforts to remake himself left him isolated and dead inside. Through recognizing and accepting that death, however, Gerald reclaims (and thus metaphorically rebirths) his more authentic self.

The primary literal death of the book is that of Elijah, who committed suicide. Readers first meet Elijah as a sort of ghost in Gerald’s dream (a form of temporary rebirth, perhaps), where he appears with a message for his friend. That message comes to make sense as Gerald reckons with his metaphorical death, which inspires his greater self-acceptance and led to the writing of this book.

There are many other transformations that are prominent and essential to the story. For example, Rod Gerald’s career-ending injury spells the death of his life as a football player.