Grab a flashlight, because it gets dark in this book. Really dark. In fact, In Darkness starts out, well, in darkness, and it pretty much ends in it, too. We can tell that darkness is not just about Shorty's physical surroundings, though. Sure, he's stuck under the rubble and can't see anything, but he uses this to make us realize how twisted and complex his life has become. He deals with gangs, shootings, murder, and drugs, all on a regular basis. It's not long before he tells us that it's tricky to find a way out of the only life that he knows. See? We told you that a flashlight would be handy in this book.
Questions About Lightness and Darkness
- When does the darkness begin in Shorty's life? How does he respond to it?
- Do you think Shorty has any hope for the light when he's in darkness? Does this change over the course of the time he's trapped by the earthquake?
- Why do you think Shorty says he's in the light at the end? What do you think this means about his life? Will he make changes to it?
- What words might we use to describe "light" and "darkness" in the book? Why are these ideas so important to Shorty and Toussaint? What do they mean?
Chew on This
Shorty might live in the darkness, but he does so voluntarily by choosing not to deal with his issues.
It's not Shorty's fault that he lives in darkness because he's been the victim of a bunch of unfair stuff in life.