Dig by A.S. King is a profoundly complex and multi-layered novel that intricately weaves the lives of five distantly related teenagers yet vastly different lives. The story's roots are planted in the past with Marla and Gottfried Hemmings, who established a successful potato farm, amassing significant wealth. This wealth, however, casts long, complicated shadows over their descendants. The narrative follows the journey of Marla, a young girl who struggles to establish her identity under her obsessively clean mother's strict control, and the Freak, a boy with the unique ability to perceive the past and future of people or objects he touches. Does the story also include CanIHelpYou? Who works at a flea market while dealing with his overtly racist father, Loretta, a girl using the act of shoveling as an escape from her abusive household, and Malcolm, living a comparatively comfortable life but grappling with his parent's divorce and adjustment to a new, healthier lifestyle. As the plot unfolds, it becomes apparent that these characters are all great-grandchildren of Marla and Gottfried Hemmings, and their lives have been affected by their ancestors' hidden wealth and secrets.
Ultimately, Dig is a powerful examination of how generational wealth, secrets, and prejudice can impact families. The title itself is a metaphor for delving into the family's past and uncovering long-buried secrets.
King employs a non-linear narrative, which enhances the feeling of disjointed family ties and the confusion each teenager experiences. The various narratives echo themes of alienation, racism, abuse, and the pressure of societal expectations.
Perhaps one of the most powerful aspects of Dig is its exploration of racism. Through CanIHelpYou?'s story, King addresses overt and systemic racism, demonstrating how harmful ideologies can be passed down through generations. The author also uses the motif of digging to symbolize the need to confront and challenge these ideologies.
