Friendship

At the center of the novel, friendship is por­trayed as having the power to transform even the loneliest and most broken of lives. When they first appear, most of the main characters-Taylor, Tur­tle, Lou Ann, Estevan and Esperanza-are broke, hurt, lonely, frightened, or just unlucky. However, as their friendships and fierce loyalty to one an­other grow, these forces begin to sustain the char­acters' lives. Alone in a city far from their homes, Taylor and Lou Ann make a new home by creat­ing a kind of family with each other and their chil­dren. Mattie rescues Taylor and Turtle when they first arrive in Tucson by talking to them sympa­thetically and by giving Taylor a job. Mattie also rescues Estevan and Esperanza by giving them shelter and keeping them safe. Virgie Mae and Edna Poppy watch...