A Duet For Home

“Can bad luck follow a person forever?”

The book begins with a question, and the urgency of the tone is designed to illustrate June’s tense mindset and establish her preoccupation with the prevalence of “bad luck” in her life. In the beginning, she feels like she has no control over her situation and attributes her family’s situation to outright misfortune. However, as she starts to pursue her goals and gain confidence, her purposeful behavior alters her “luck,” and this shift will prove that “bad luck” was never the main issue.

“Tyrell had lived at Huey House for three years, and if there was anything he had learned, it was this: sometimes adults say things they mean, and sometimes adults say things they think they should say.”

Tyrell is an established presence at Huey House, so he has accumulated a fair amount of knowledge about how the shelter works and has grown to understand the adults who run it. Some adults, like Ms. Gonzalez, are honest and sincere, while others, like Ms. MacMillan and the people at HQ, use deceptive language and support harmful programs like HSP.

“HOMELESS SHELTER. This was a homeless shelter. The words echoed in June’s mind […] June wasn’t surprised to find out that it was on the fourth floor. Four. The unluckiest number of all.”

The repetition of the negative phrase “homeless shelter” reinforces June’s dismay about the prospect of living in Huey House. The repetition of the number four adds to her distress, as Chinese tradition dictates that the number is inherently unlucky. In this passage, June’s use of repetition reflects the fact that she is trying to come to terms with her unfortunate circumstances.