Breaking Night
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Epilogue
Themes
All Themes Willpower and Independence Poverty Drugs and Addiction Family Sex and Power
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Elizabeth “Liz” Murray Ma / Jean Murray Daddy / Peter Finnerty Lisa Murray Carlos Marcano Samantha / Sam Perry Weiner Grandma Ron Rick Hernandez Danny Hernandez Brick Bobby
Symbols
All Symbols The Photograph of Ma
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Breaking Night

by

Liz Murray

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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Prologue
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10
  • Chapter 11
  • Chapter 12
  • Epilogue
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Willpower and Independence Theme Icon
    Willpower and Independence
  • Poverty Theme Icon
    Poverty
  • Drugs and Addiction Theme Icon
    Drugs and Addiction
  • Family Theme Icon
    Family
  • Sex and Power Theme Icon
    Sex and Power
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Elizabeth “Liz” Murray
  • Ma / Jean Murray
  • Daddy / Peter Finnerty
  • Lisa Murray
  • Carlos Marcano
  • Samantha / Sam
  • Perry Weiner
  • Grandma
  • Ron
  • Rick Hernandez
  • Danny Hernandez
  • Brick
  • Bobby
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Photograph of Ma Symbol Icon
    The Photograph of Ma
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

Breaking Night Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Arn, Jackson. "Breaking Night." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 20 Oct 2017. Web. 8 Dec 2025.


Chicago

Arn, Jackson. "Breaking Night." LitCharts LLC, October 20, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/breaking-night.

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