Relationships

One of the primary themes running through the novel is relationships. Friendship is one type of relationship that the novel addresses. First, Jilly and Erin are best friends. The girls are inseparable and have been this way since they were in Kindergarten. As Erin and Jilly are living more separate lives when they go into the seventh grade in middle school, each girl learns to live their own life. The girls also experience the trials and tribulations that friendships sometimes go through as things change and people grow. In the end, their friendship is better for the experiences the girls have - the good ones and the bad ones.

Romantic relationships are also tackled in the novel. Erin and Mark start out as friends. The more Erin gets to know Mark, the more she likes him as a boyfriend rather than just a friend. As they continue to...