Key Theme

Family is the central theme throughout the entire novel. This is because the storyline is about the lives of this particular family - Kate's family. While every family has their trials and tribulations, Kate's family has its own family dynamics that are the same and that are different from those of other families. In the end though, they are a family and they will get through it together, one way or the other. Even though Kate's parents end up separating, she still has a relationship with both of them and her brother. Additionally, she forms a new kind of relationship with her grandmother since Kate sees her grandmother in a new light.