Genre
Young Adult Graphic Novel
Setting and Context
The Beach Town of Awago
Narrator and Point of View
From the point of view of Rose
Tone and Mood
Inspiring, Affirming, Revealing, Positive, Negative, Growing, and Revelatory
Protagonist and Antagonist
Rose v. growing up and dealing with struggles
Major Conflict
Rose's efforts to deal with her persona struggles, becoming a woman, and dealing with issues at her own home involving fights with her mother and father.
Climax
When Rose's mother saves Jenny, who was pregnant and incredibly drunk, from the ocean.
Foreshadowing
Rose's mother going back into the ocean after suffering a miscarriage in the ocean long before is foreshadowed throughout the book.
Understatement
The extent to which Rose's father plays a part in his arguments with Rose's mother is occasionally understated.
Allusions
To LGBT issues, religious ideals and history, to geography, to history in general, and to sociology and ethnic studies.
Imagery
The pebbles on the beach provide very deep imagery which signifies Rose and Windy's rebirth and their journey into young womanhood.
Paradox
Rose's father leaves for days at a time because he fights with his wife, Rose's mother, despite have tremendous responsibilities at home and in the community.
Parallelism
Rose's mother and Jenny's story and their journey of self-discovery and change is paralleled throughout the book and culminates in the two meeting in water.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The ocean is frequently personified in the book.
