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Chapter 14
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Boy Overboard, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Immigration, Family, and Home
Identity and Ancestry
Hope
Gender and Discrimination
Summary
Analysis
The crowd at the refugee camp is the largest Jamal has ever seen, including at the European Cup Final on TV. Jamal’s family has been there three days trying to find a way to get to Australia. Jamal tries to help, though no one takes him seriously, so he spends a lot of time practicing football. At the camp, people are constantly trying to sell things, though luckily Jamal’s mom packed well so they don’t have to buy anything. A boy trying to sell Jamal water agrees to play ball with him, but he steals the ball and Jamal chases after him. When Jamal finally recovers the ball, he realizes he is in a different part of camp.
Jamal’s experience at the refugee camp reveals the fact that his family is not alone in their struggles. There are thousands of refugees, and everyone is looking for the same thing: a better, safer future. This highlights the extent of persecution in Afghanistan, and the harm that it can cause. People in the camp are desperately trying to make ends meet, selling personal items and even stealing.
Themes
Jamal notices that the people in this area of camp are lying down. He thinks they’re sick and wonders how he might be able to help them. When he sees a truck with a red cross on it, he stops it and points out to the driver all the sick people. The driver corrects him, saying they’re just hungry and that they’re waiting for a food shipment. He asks if Jamal wants to help hand out food, and Jamal says yes, if he’s still here. He says he’s going to Australia. The man introduces him to Gav, a blond-haired Australian man.
Jamal’s naivete takes center stage here, with him believing the starving people in the camp are sick instead of hungry. Still, despite his naivete, Jamal displays incredible selflessness and compassion. Though he is only a kid, he takes it upon himself to stop a Red Cross truck and ask for help for the people. Then, when he learns the people are starving, he offers to help distribute food when it arrives.
Themes
Jamal asks him what it’s like in Australia and whether there are any good football teams. Gav says there are and that girls are also allowed to play soccer. Jamal is delighted by this and asks more questions, like whether people can be bakers and whether there’s enough food for everyone. The man answers yes to all his questions. He says that people are always happy in Australia. Jamal is proud of his parents for having them move to the best place on earth. Jamal tries to return to his tent, but realizes he is lost. He tells himself not to give up hope but thinks that sometimes, there’s nothing else you can do.
After speaking to the Australian Red Cross worker, Jamal feels much better about moving to Australia, renewing his faith in his parents’ decision. As is typical, however, Jamal’s reaction is overly optimistic and idealized; he has just learned of Australia, and already he believes it is the best place on earth. This highlights the extent of Jamal’s emotional turmoil: he so desperately needs hope that he over-idealizes any opportunity that offers the slightest glimmer of it.
Themes
