What are the motifs in Canyons by Gary Paulsen?

Family is a recurring idea in the story. Neither Coyote Runs nor Brennan has a father. Brennan finds this situation difficult because it forces him to watch his mother struggle in her many attempts to find a meaningful relationship. Coyote Runs is impacted by his lack of a father because he does not have a man in his life to decide when he is ready to prove that he is ready to be a man. These situations make life difficult for these two young men.