The Boys from Biloxi

The Boys from Biloxi contains four parts: “The Boys,” “The Crusader,” “The Prisoners,” and “The Row.” Consider the thematic implications of each part, relating it to that part’s title. Potential topics include family identity, loyalty, morality versus legality, and legacy.

Baseball is a prevalent symbol throughout the book. Trace how the symbol is treated throughout the narrative and explain the significance of having baseball be the activity that binds Hugh and Keith.

Keith and Hugh are both extremely loyal to their fathers. However, their loyalty sometimes backfires—the best example being when Hugh wants to “avenge” Lance by ordering a hit on Jesse, and then ends up on death row. Examine the treatment of familial loyalty and how the narrative questions it.