The wedding dress
The wedding dress that Sade carries when she leaves Nigeria symbolizes her mother's love. Before Sade's mother was killed, she sewed her a wedding dress to use in the future when she gets married. The wedding dress is important in the novel because it connects Sade and her mother. Throughout her days in the United Kingdom, Sade looked at the dress, which helped her feel her mother's presence.
Mercia and Donna
Mercia and Donna are symbols of racism. Mercia and Donna are White students, and when they first interact with Sade and Femi, they start bullying them. Mercia forces Sade to steal small items for her, and she brutally assaults Sade when she tries to refuse. On the other hand, Donna abuses Femi with nasty names because of his dark skin. Bullying in school makes it difficult for Femi and her brother to concentrate on their studies.
Sade’s foster mother
Sade's foster mother is a symbol of kindness. The foster mother treats Sade and Femi as her biological children. For instance, the foster mother takes Sade and Femi to a prestigious school, providing them with all necessities they need to be happy. The foster mother also encourages Sade to eat and stop worrying about her father because he will finally come out of prison.
