Zora presents a generally positive portrait of her home town of Eatonville. It's quite an idyllic place for a small child growing up, a safe and secure place where the all-black population is to some extent protected from the worst of the racial discrimination then prevalent in the South.

The town is surrounded by lakes full of fish, which means that she and her family always have plenty to eat. And in the town itself, Cape jasmine bushes in bloom are a common sight, making the town look beautiful and full of life.

There is a real sense of community in Eatonville, with the town's life revolving round two churches—one Baptist, the other Methodist—and Joe Clarke's store, which Zora describes as "the heart and spring of the town". This is a classic small town, with everything that entails. But although it might provide a haven of peace and security for a young child, it doesn't have much to recommend it to an ambitious adult. It's certainly no place for someone like Zora, who wants to head out into the big wide world and make it as a writer.