Alex rarely touches on the word family in a direct discussion, yet the book is primarily concerned with the meaning of family. Alex seems unbothered in the early chapters about his lonely life and mother’s condition, and he has no complaints about her lack of involvement in his life nor about Ronnie’s distracted detachment from him. His chattiness, optimism, sense of humor, and inquisitiveness all serve to cover any negativity or fear in him. Readers, however, note subtle clues that suggest Alex lacks not just supervision in his life but love. His mother’s “quiet days,” long walks, and complete disregard for his trip to SHARF alert the reader that she is unable to fulfill Alex’s basic and emotional needs. Alex states only indirectly how much he misses Ronnie, and keeps Ronnie’s side of the room exactly as it was when he left. Sometimes Alex even sleeps in Ronnie’s bed, yearning to be more like Ronnie and, consequently, possess greater capability to care for his mother. Alex claims he can’t miss a father he cannot remember, yet he searches for information about his father on Ancestry.com and makes a sudden decision to search for him in Las Vegas.

Once Alex’s “father quest” replaces his goals at SHARF, new people in Alex’s life rapidly step in to supervisory roles for him as if they are family, demonstrating the closeness, consideration, and care that he was missing.