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Chapter 14
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Bone Sparrow, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Dehumanization, Invisibility, and Refugee Camps
Childhood
Family and Friendship
Storytelling, Escapism, and Hope
Summary
Analysis
Jimmie flashes her flashlight back at the Centre all the way up the hill and whoops with joy when Subhi flashes back. But then she wonders what it’s like to never be able to explore. Realizing that Subhi has probably never climbed a tree, she realizes how unfair it all is. She can’t understand why people are so mean to one another when “everyone [is] just the same anyway.” When she gets home and sees Jonah’s phone, she has an idea. Jonah won’t notice it’s missing, so Jimmie pockets it. She’ll show Subhi everything he has to look forward to. That night, she puts the phone and her mum’s book in a drawer so she can share them with Subhi later.
Suddenly, Jimmie realizes that Subhi is a good, fun friend—but he’s also a victim of some extremely aggressive, and arguably inhumane, immigration policies. She notes that “everyone [is] just the same,” suggesting a more compassionate worldview that sees all people as deserving of safety, security, and happiness. She can’t singlehandedly change Australian immigration policy, but she can help Subhi remain hopeful that he will one day be free to roam Australia with her.
Themes
