What is the theme in The Man Who Loved Clowns by June Rae Wood?

The most obvious theme in the novel is that of friendship. When Delrita first arrives in Tangle Nook, her parents encourage her to make some new friends, but Delrita is hiding a secret: she's embarrassed of her handicapped Uncle Punky and fears that if friends find out she lives with him, they will make fun of her. As a result, Delrita is completely isolate in her life, dedicating all her time to protecting Punky.