What is the theme in Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff?

Self-Perception plays a large role in Pictures of Hollis Woods because Hollis' drama would not have occurred had she possessed higher self-esteem. This begins to be evident in the first chapter when Hollis explains that she does not look at the mustard woman because she does not want anyone to see into her soul, indicating that she does not approve of what they would see. After reminiscing about how the Old Man and Steven taught her how to fish in Third Picture, Hollis asks "why did I have to mess everything up" (p. 29), which shows that she blames herself for what went wrong with the Regan family.