Interconnectedness

The author uses the theme of interconnectivity to capture the deeply interwoven nature of human life. By connecting characters from New York, Germany, Virginia, and Turkey, the author demonstrates how intimately linked all life is, whether we are aware of it or not. Like the patterns on Kiki's carpets, all lives are interwoven--in ways that so often go unrealized.

While in Turkey, Kiki met three Germans: Dieter, Bruno, and Steffi. Even though they never meet again, Steffi is then re-connected to New York through her daughter, Monika, who works at the Met. Furthermore, what no one knows is that Monika is working to return stolen objects, while an object that her own mother stole is on display in the museum. Dieter is the only one who notices the tablet. He too wonders if Kiki, who may very well be in New York, has seen the tablet...