Both the characters and settings are used to develop Holt's themes in the novel. Toby believes that because Antler is small it is always the same; everybody knows everybody, and nothing will ever change. Holt uses these aspects of close community to emphasize how they hinder or help her characters' visions of their lives and to teach Toby that the fulfillment of dreams is dependent not so much on where but on how life is lived.

Antler is peopled with numerous characters who appear to know each other well.

But as Toby quickly learns, appearances can be deceiving. In Toby's view, Antler's smallness and security creates an environment where people dream their dreams but appear to have given them up. The town gossip labels Ferris a coward, and because of this he gives up his dream to become a preacher. He sees no options outside the...