Upon reading pages 1-83 of Caucasia by Danzy Senna I found that the main theme that engulfed the first section is isolation. Sandra, Deck, Cole, and Birdie are very isolated in that they are a different or “other” family. Not only is this family isolated from the outside world, but they are isolated from each other. Cole is darker and takes after her father’s black side and Birdie takes after her mothers white side. Although Sandra and Deck make it obvious that the two are different by bludgeoning the girls with very different outlooks toward race—Sandra’s white influences and Deck’s black influences–The sisters plead deaf to that difference and embrace each other even more. The sisters form their own language (Elemeno) and even create an imagined nation. It seems that with Elemeno they have something that only Birdie and Cole can understand; something that Sandra, Deck, and even outsiders of the family will never understand or relate to–”When Cole and I were alone in our attic, speaking Elemeno and making cities out of stuff animals…we were the inside, the secret and fun make-believe, and that was where I wanted to stay” (Senna 7). This language seems like the only way Birdie and Cole stay connected and the way they keep themselves “alive” inside. What is interesting is that according to Birdie and Cole, the Elemenos are not only black and white, they are interchangeable. The colors change from purple, green, yellow…etc. Now these children are young and it fascinates me that they understand that it shouldn’t matter what color or race you are. It is also sad that Cole and Birdies parents are simply confusing the girls not to mention outsiders they come in contact with everyday.
This novel is heavy on race and quite interesting….so far 
