One of the most obvious themes of this text is the importance of diversity, of learning not to automatically discredit someone else's culture or viewpoint. Creech uses the diverse cultures of her characters to make this point clear. Dinnie does not want to move to Switzerland; in fact, she feels as if she has been kidnapped. She is intimidated by the language differences as well. However, as the story progresses, she accepts her classmates' differences to the point of not even consciously recognizing them as "foreign." She appreciates the uniqueness of each person.

It is through her friend Lila that Dinnie sees the destruction that can occur when you keep yourself closed off from learning new things. Lila, who is also an American, hates the boarding school. Her roommate, Belen, is Spanish, and Lila cannot stand rooming with someone who is not an American...