Comment on theme

Difficulties in communication are a major theme in the novel, and each of the characters has their own unique struggle with both conveying their inner thoughts and feelings, as well as understanding those of others. Without a doubt, Hanna’s difficulty with speech is the most overt example of this. The Jensens’ struggles to pry words out of their selectively mute daughter continue until the very end of the novel. Hanna’s unwillingness or, as her perspective hints, psychological inability to speak impairs her relationships with everyone around her, from her parents to her classmates.