“We lived in the early nineties, during a time when youthful violence still had the ability to shock. Even in the homicide capital of the country, there was nothing that felt commonplace about violence, nothing normal about the metal detectors they began installing in our schools in an effort to quell that violence.” 

Cummins opens by drawing parallels between the violent murders in the book and the scale of youthful violence happening today. Much like the victims in the book, the United States was innocent during the 1990s, but violence among adolescents and children would expand from that moment up to the rates we are familiar with today. Cummins focuses on the imagery of metal detectors in schools to highlight this point, jarring the reader with familiar imagery reflecting current events.

“But tonight, they all romped like children. Together they abandoned self-consciousness and embraced their last vestiges of childhood.” 

Cummins emphasizes the innocence and childlike behavior of the Kerry and Cummins kids. Most of them are growing into adulthood, and this trip is an opportune chance for them to hang on to the fun of being children. This reflects the theme of the transition from childhood to adulthood, but the juxtaposition of this characterization with the brutality and tragedy of the impending murder also serves to build additional pathos for this event.

“So as Tom looked over at his cousin beside him in the Hornet that night, April 4, 1991, he felt an all-encompassing warmth and admiration for her. She was undoubtedly his favorite person in the world; he felt proud to know her. And he felt pleased with himself now too. Because thanks to Julie, he was learning to recognize the good traits in himself.” 

Cummins devotes Chapter 2 to explaining the close friendship between Tom and Julie, imparting to the reader why Tom adored Julie so much. She turned his life around completely through their friendship.