Characters
The child that is mute at the start of the novel due to their trauma.
Who is Chipo?
What is Michigan?
This theme is marked by the children's constant search for food and survival.
What is poverty?
Darling stays in her home in Michigan to avoid these conditions.
What is the snow and freezing temperatures?
The food that symbolizes hunger and rebellion in We Need New Names.
What is a guava?
Who is Mother of Bones?
The place where Darling and her friends steal guavas.
What is Budapest?
The novel's portrayal of Darling's transition from childhood to adulthood primarily reflects this theme.
What is coming-of-age?
This behaviour that Darling was accustomed to in Zimbabwe that makes her feel embarrassed.
What is hitting a child?
The place where Darling and her friends live in Zimbabwe symbolizes both hope and a harsh reality.
What is Paradise?
Aunt Fostalina's previous boss who Darling works for as a maid.
Who is Eliot?
The country Darling's father moved to for work.
Darling's need to change her accent to feel belonging in Michigan.
What is assimilation?
Darling’s memories of guavas after moving to America symbolizes this larger emotional conflict.
What is longing for home, or nostalgia?
The significance of the novel's title, We Need New Names.
What is the idea of changing identities or reinventing oneself in a new culture.
The name of the child who misbehaved at the wedding.
Who is Mandla?
The store that Darling, Marina, and Kristal shop at.
What is JCPenny?
Darling's struggle of sending money back home inform about the immigrant experience.
What is the burden of supporting family abroad?
What is purchasing a bra via phone and not being understood?
The idea of 'white-saviorism' is represented by this group of people.
What are the NGO's?
The character's name who tells Darling: “You know what, Darling? You are a great kid. You are not like the rest of them; you’re different" (Bulawayo, 257).
Who is Jim?
The country that Uncle Kojo, Darling's uncle is from.
What is childhood innocence?
Darling notes the abundance of this in America, compared to Paradise.
What is food?
This institution (or character) takes advantage of its followers?
What is religion? Who is Prophet Revelations Bitchington Mborro?