Urban Decay
Events in the novel happen within the poorer, ethnically diverse neighborhoods where the street gangs reign. Logically, because the scenes happen in these areas there are many passages that describe urban and inner city decay. Graffiti and gang signs are a mainstay within the narrative.
Poverty
The inner cities are areas of abject poverty and there are several passages describing both the condition of poverty and the effects it brings to those unfortunate enough to be living in such circumstances. Poverty is described not just as a condition but almost as an enemy constantly hounding the characters.
Strained Family Ties
One of the most pervasive themes in the novel is family--particularly unhappy or estranged family relationships. Most every family relationship the characters have is either difficult or outright hostile. Ika's husband and father of her sons is an example of this. He is both physically and emotionally abusive to his wife and sons. Even the relationship between Ika and her sons are similarly strained; she can barely take care of her boys because she needs to take on multiple jobs to make ends meet, and her sons regard her poorly because of her inability to learn English. Even the boys are at odds with one another.
Violence
Violence is a virtual fixture in the novel, and it is everywhere existing on many levels. There is domestic violence that Ika and her sons experience. There is the cruel and abusive treatment that Ika endures from the neighbors and her employers. There is the gang wars and turf battles that happen in their community. Even in Tomas' hobby violence is a mainstay: he breeds vicious dogs to sell at exorbitant prices and those he cannot sell he puts into dogfighting matches for cash.
