Key Theme

As answered earlier, 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.

Another important theme is coming of age, particularly in the face of adversity. Kate struggles with the fact that her coming of age includes having to make new friends and start a new life after she loses Anna and her father starts selling infomercial vitamins, which makes Kate a social outcast. She deals with the responsibilities in life of having parents that seem to act more like children at times, in addition to trying to figure out her relationship with Will.