How does the author use symbolism in the novel, What She Left Behind?

One example of symbolism can be found in the baby gosplings that Izzy finds in a field near a road. She hesitates, uncertain as to whether or not she should move the baby geese, or leave them for their mother's return. Izzy allows the mother to return and watches the happy family of geese reunited. This is a very symbolic early moment. It illustrates a theme that will run throughout the story of younger children who are left on their own with absentee mothers. Since Izzy will spend the majority of the story struggling with issues relating to her mother, her foster mother and even Clara as young mother, the writer is clearly using the goslings to symbolically set in motion a major theme of the book.