Red Kayak

The red kayak symbolizes the persistence of loss and guilt. After Ben dies, the red kayak remains in the river. When Brady sees it following Ben’s death, the boat strikes Brady as an unsettling manner of the way in which Ben died. Later, when Brady retrieves the boat as evidence against Digger and J.T., it is transformed into a symbol of truth and the necessity of justice.

Butterfly Garden

In the novel, butterfly gardens symbolize commemoration and the processing of grief. After Amanda died, Brady’s mother planted a butterfly garden, which is a garden featuring flowers that attract butterflies. The garden is a monument to Amanda’s memory. At Brady’s suggesting, and with Brady’s mother’s help, Gina plants one in honor of Ben. Gina even takes it with her when she and her husband move out of town.

Farmland