Wild Card

In Wild Card, family is defined not by blood but by deliberate acts of loyalty, support, and connection. The novel argues that true belonging is found in relationships forged through mutual care, contrasting the strained dynamics of the novel’s biological families with the deep, affirming bonds of its found families. This idea is so central that the Author’s Note identifies the series’s thesis as the concept that family “can be found and it can be created” (v), a theme the narrative explores by showing how chosen families can offer a more genuine form of acceptance than their biological counterparts.

The novel consistently portrays biological relationships as fraught with tension and unmet expectations. Bash’s connection with his newly discovered son, Tripp, is marked by an awkward formality born from missed history and conflicting values. In describing his newfound relationship with his son, Bash says, “Tripp hasn’t been forthcoming about his personal life, and I haven’t pushed him. Instead, I’ve settled for what he's been willing to give me” (93). The awkward, stiff interactions between Tripp and Bash, who share biological bond but have no history together, are evidence that biology is not the foundation of family. Though Bash has dreamed of being a father for years, he cannot retroactively become a dad to a grown man who already has one. The lies Tripp was told about his father, coupled with the immense gap in their life experiences, stand in the way of any genuine intimacy between them.

While Tripp has been estranged from his biological father by circumstance, Gwen is estranged from hers because of his toxic, controlling behavior. He rejected her career path and criticized her body, ultimately kicking her out of his home at 18 because she refused to follow the life path he prescribed for her. Describing the lasting impact this rejection had on her, she tells Bash, “Obviously, he really fucked with the way I saw myself. Nothing I did was ever enough” (242). Even a decade later, her father’s disapproving voice continues to play in Gwen’s mind, damaging her self-esteem. These relationships highlight how blood ties do not guarantee unconditional love or support, often becoming sources of pain and alienation rather than comfort. Gwen’s father’s criticism and Bash’s initial disconnect from Tripp underscore the novel’s perspective that shared DNA is an insufficient foundation for a meaningful familial bond.

In contrast, the found families in the novel provide the unwavering support and acceptance that the biological families lack. Bash’s most significant relationship is with Clyde, an elderly, eccentric man who acts as both a father figure and a friend. Their bond transcends friendship; they bicker and challenge each other, but their loyalty is absolute, culminating in Bash donating a kidney to save Clyde’s life. This profound act solidifies a connection far deeper than the one Bash shares with Tripp. Likewise, the “Dads’ Night Out” bowling team serves as a surrogate family for its members. This group of unlikely friends offers Bash a consistent support system, celebrating his victories and offering counsel through his struggles. Through these chosen families, the novel champions the idea that authentic belonging comes from the conscious decision to show up for one another, creating a support network built on shared experience and mutual respect rather than biological obligation.