What is the author’s tone towards domestic abuse? What does he see as its causes and possible solutions?

Throughout the novel, the author speaks to the effects of abuse, specifically the fact that abuse leads to more abuse. Charlie's mother and father were both raised in homes where there was abuse. Charlie's love interest, Sam, was sexually abused as a little girl, and Charlie was sexually abused by his beloved aunt. In the end, Charlie reasons that if Aunt Helen hadn't been abused by her father, perhaps their relationship would have turned out differently. He was probably right.