The novel depicts the reality of so many poor youths around the world. Poverty coupled with difficult situations in the home leads them to being involved in activities which only puts them further into poverty.
Their home lives push them to seek out love and affection in unhealthy ways as seen with Esch. Esch's father was always drunk and was abusive towards her and her siblings. She found relief in her books and tried to recreate the situations from her book in her personal life. She felt wanted in the moments, not realizing that someone much older than her was taking advantage of her need for attention. She is now a teenage single mother, she must now not only fend for herself but also another child. She becomes trapped in the never ending cycle.
The negative home life often pushes them into the illegal activity so they can put food on the table. This can be seen with Esch's brother and so many other youngsters who were eager to get into dog fighting. They are forced to grow up too fast by their difficult situations and they turn to the avenues available to them. Often violent and illegal means. Esch's brother could have been arrested and charged when he stole from the white people in order to keep his puppies alive. A criminal record would not improve his situations, it would only help to continue the cycle of poverty.