The crux of the narrative is the complicated dynamics in modern-day marriages as it explores bigamy, cheating, and a love/illegitimate child. Set in the 1980s it delves into middle-class families and the hidden secrets surrounding a bigamist man. The author explores a topic that has become common in modern society as infidelity and love children are major issues in marriages. Although the narrative is centered on this marital issue it focuses on the children of these families. Both protagonists/narrators, Dana and Chaurisse, offer their side of the stories hence focusing on topics of identity and womanhood.
The first part is narrated by Dana, Witherspoon’s daughter from the secret family. Dana and her mother are aware of Witherspoon’s other family and also that they are the secret. Her world intertwines with Chaurisse’s as she makes a point to know her and her relationship with their father. This demonstrates the neglect and insecurity that she feels for being the second choice in his father’s eyes. She hopes to put herself in Chaurisse’s shoes and somehow know the love that she is not receiving because of her. The author expresses the abandonment issues suffered by illegitimate children, as they never receive the full attention and affection of the parent. Thus, loneliness as a motif in the story, Jones highlights the alienation that comes with being a secret child.
In the second part, Chaurisse takes the helm in the narrative and accounts her struggles with identity and insecurities. Although unaware of the secrets in their families she befriends Dans for other reasons. She admires and envies Dana for her beauty and popularity, things she feels she lacks. To Chaurisse, Dana is the silver sparrow and she is obsessed with her as much as Dana is of her. Both oblivious of their complicated relationship they have to navigate the path of womanhood and of finding themselves.
