November Blues

“Isn’t having a boyfriend just what happens in high school—like doing math homework or going to dances or buying new shoes?”

Here, Draper foregrounds a common misconception that having a relationship in high school is a natural occurrence with no particular consequences. It becomes clear that before getting pregnant,November didn’t associate love with responsibility, and, like many of her peers, just followed her feelings. The author uses November’s example to demonstrate that even something as harmless as dating can have consequences that can change the whole trajectory of one’s life.

“‘You can’t blame yourself, Jericho,’ Mr. Tambori said, kindness and patience in his voice. But Jericho didn’t want kindness. ‘Then who, Mr. T?’ demanded Jericho. ‘I told him to jump. I cheered him on, then stood there like a fool and watched him die. I will never forgive myself.’”

This passage highlights how guilty Jericho feels about his role in his cousin’s death. Although everyone understands that it was an accident, Jericho keeps holding himself accountable for what happened. Guilt-ridden and upset, he runs from his emotional pain by abandoning his trumpet and devoting himself to football.

“‘The music will be there when you are ready, Jericho.’”

Jericho’s music teacher, Mr. Tambori, assures him that music is a part of his essence and that he cannot run away from it forever. His words prove to be true;at the end of the novel,Jericho decides to return to his trumpet, thus starting the road to emotional recovery.