THEME: In the end, the hardships in life are what truly bring us together. Page3; Para.2- "Very few people come out and say they don't like you because you aren't white; when you're younger it comes at a birthday party you learn about after the fact, or later, having a girl say yes to a date only to come back after discussing it with her parents, having suddenly remembered she had another engagement that …showed first 75 words of 349 total…

…showed last 75 words of 349 total…misfits and in the end, their differences brought them together. Page193; Para.6- "...Heidi comes through the kitchen door, one hand dripping in soapsuds, the other dripping blood. Mom rushes to her." - Heidi will do anything to fit in, including hurting herself. She wants to be white so that her step-dad won't discriminate against her. T.J. can relate to her and help her deal with her problem because he too once suffered discrimination.