Throughout the novel, readers can find evidence of the theme of growing up, specifically regarding the gaining wisdom in advance of one’s years. This is seen mostly with Bud’s character but also with Bugs and Deza. Because of the economic and social impacts of the Great Depression, each of these characters is forced to mature early. Because they cannot benefit from a traditionally stable and loving home environment with family to shelter and provide for them, they each feel the need to tend to basic necessities for themselves. These experiences grant each character a share of precocious wisdom that is incomplete and tempered with a child’s innocence.

Bud thinks of himself as quite mature and “almost grown” (43). It is not a coincidence that he believes age six marks a person’s coming-of-age: “Most folks think you start to be a real adult when you’re fifteen or sixteen years old, but that’s not true, it really starts when you’re around six” (4). Bud discusses how losing teeth at this age and adults “giving you slugs that’ll knock you right down” (4) make one grow up quickly, but readers also know that six is the age Bud lost his mother.