One of the central themes of the novel is the loss of innocence. At the beginning of the narrative, Arsenije views the world with the naivety of a child. He believes in the inherent goodness of rules and the adults who enforce them. However, the unjust killing of Pijaca shatters this worldview. The boy realizes that rules (like "dogs forbidden") are not necessarily designed for the greater good, but rather to exclude and destroy those who are different. This transition from innocence to a painful, critical awareness is a classic literary trope, but Pekić handles it with a unique psychological intensity. The novel suggests that growing up is not a natural process of maturation, but a traumatic realization of the world’s inherent unfairness.
The book follows Miki from ages 12 to 16. Teachers use it to discuss psychological development, first crushes, lying, guilt, and the complexity of adult relationships (divorce, infidelity) as seen through a child's lens.
Upon release in 2011, Psima Ulaz Zabranjen won immediate acclaim:
