Reply To: The Searcher: How does the author address current affairs?
There is discussion about why the young people move away from the country. There are not a lot of opportunities for young people, especially young men, in small rural areas. A few might take over the family farm or run a family business but those are few and far between. Some will leave their home and try to find their way in the city or maybe in England. Then there are those who succumb to apathy and depression ending up taking their own lives. Others turn to drugs, using them and/or selling them. There is a sad reality of seeing no hope for the future where they grew up and drives many young people to find a way somewhere other than their homeland.
Tana gives a nod to the LGBTQ community when Mart tells Cal that Trey is a girl. He assumes by Cal’s reaction that the news means Cal thinks Try is gay. Mart tries to smooth out Cal’s shock by confiding in him that he has an older brother who is gay. He also tells Cal that he voted for gay rights. We don’t really know if Trey identifies as a boy. Her butch haircut is for convenience according to her and her clothes are what she has to wear. I suspect they are hand-me-downs since the family is so poor and there are six children. I also think Trey is so focused on finding her brother that she doesn’t take the time or care about her appearance. She acts quit “tough” but I believe that is from living in survival mode all her life.
Of course the issue of drug use and abuse is a big part of the story. It’s the reason Brendan is dead. It’s the reason Mart is trying so hard to protect his family, the community of Ardnakelty, from the invasion of harmful drugs and its impact on the youth living there.
