The chapter titles are: “How They Appeared,” “How They Arrived,” and “How They Lived.” These chapters describe the process of displacement, as well as the overall transition from optimistic dreams to sobering reality. These chapters help to transition the text from one place to another, such as from Zimbabwe to America. The main body of chapters are interspersed by three chapters that are more omniscient in perspective.
Heavier topics that include incest/rape, murder, suicide, AIDS, and displacement are also viewed through her eyes, and these are approached humanely and maturely despite her age and the presence of humor. She looks at the discrepancies in religion (she’s been accused of having the spirit of her unruly grandfather who was killed by whites residing within her by Prophet Revelations Bitchington Mborro) colonization (she thinks whites are stupid for stealing something as large as a country because everyone can tell they stole it) sex (her mother sleeps with a man who isn’t her father and Darling hates how the man snores) and many other issues. Now, Darling and her mother try and get by without the help of her father (who left for South Africa but hasn’t been heard from since).ĭarling’s childlike gaze takes issue with many things around her, and her perceptions, as well as those of her friends, are often wise beyond her years.
Darling’s parents lived in a proper brick house once, but police came and bulldozed the neighborhood. As Darling waits for the day that she can leave, she comments on her days in Paradise, which is the name of the shantytown where she lives. Many of Darling’s own friends want to leave the country as well, but others don’t have Darling’s opportunity. This hope, in fact, is a hope of many people in Zimbabwe, especially as the country is suffering from a violent and oppressive government. Early on, the reader learns that Darling is supposed to join her Aunt Fostalina in America sometime soon.
Her group of friends includes Bastard, Stina, Godknows, Sbho, and Chipo, and the group travels to nearby cities to steal guavas from trees to satiate their hunger. Darling is a 10-year-old girl from Zimbabwe who likes to steal guavas with her friends.
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