* Jess's family lives in a cramped apartment in the country, and they have to share a bedroom with their parents.
* Jess's father is laid off from work and has difficulty finding a new job, which puts a strain on the family's finances.
* Jess's parents have to make sacrifices to keep the family afloat, such as selling their car and going on food stamps.
* Jess and his sister, May Belle, have to make do with hand-me-down clothes and toys.
* Jess's family is unable to afford to send him and May Belle to summer camp.
These details create a vivid picture of the family's economic situation and show how it impacts their daily lives.