Double Dutch

As the state proficiency exam looms, Delia’s struggles with reading become increasingly pronounced. This is juxtaposed with her participation in Double Dutch—the very activity that provides her with purpose and confidence. While Delia excels in math and demonstrates notable intelligence, her inability to read undermines her self-esteem. 

The narrative continues to illustrate The Psychological Toll of Secrets. There is a stark divide between Delia’s public persona and private reality. Delia finds respite in her close friendship with Yolanda but refuses to accept meaningful assistance. Delia has been hiding her secret for so long. She has internalized it as part of her identity and believes it is too late to change anything. Her secret has led her to a place of helplessness, which contrasts with the confidence and efficacy she feels at Double Dutch.

Draper further explores The Value of Competitive Sports. Double Dutch has impacted not only Delia but many of the girls on the team. Delia’s fellow jumper, Misty, explains that Double Dutch has given her a “reason to keep going” (61). The game provides her with the motivation and structure to keep her grades up and maintain her focus, even though her father is dead and her mother is unable to work. Delia and the other girls relate deeply to Misty’s analysis of the value of the sport and see how it has positively impacted their own lives. Though Misty blushes as she tells her story, the trust and intimacy between teammates allow her to overcome her shame. She alleviates some of her burden by sharing it with friends. In this way, the novel suggests that sharing with loved ones has the opposite impact of keeping secrets; while keeping secrets wreaks havoc, unburdening oneself leads to catharsis and connection.

Randy’s circumstances parallel Delia’s. With food supplies dwindling and growing fear that something terrible has happened to his father, Randy is thrust into a harsh reality, one that challenges his ability to maintain a carefree demeanor. His and Delia’s shared experiences of fear and uncertainty bind them. However, both characters continue to misinterpret each other’s situations. They see only the images the other projects to the world, precluding honesty. This illustrates a central thread of the novel: the struggle for authentic connection amidst the chaos of personal secrets.

Lord of the Flies resonates deeply with Delia and Randy as they grapple with their own fears and instincts. The novel follows a group of teenagers surviving on a desert island and explores how fear and deception lead to violence. Draper connects Delia and Randy’s struggles to the fear and deception present in Lord of the Flies, emphasizing how their fears lead them to construct lies that further entrap them psychologically.

Draper complicates her portrayal of the Tolliver twins by revealing contradictions within their personas. Despite their fearsome reputation, Delia observes that they perform well academically. Yolanda experiences a surprisingly positive interaction with them, during which they commend her for her “guts.” These moments of humanity challenge the binary view of the Tollivers as mere antagonists. In this way, Draper suggests that people are complex—not all bad or all good.