Food

Food is one of the most important symbols of culture in this novel. Lila's family is centered on the Filipino cuisine that is central to their lives at every meal. The author drives this fact home by including some recipes for some traditional Filipino foods at the end of the novel.

The Arsenic

Arsenic is a symbol that Derek's death was murder. The arsenic found on his dish at Tita Rosie's Kitchen is a symbol to police that someone working at the restaurant killed Derek. Later, Lila and the police learn that Mr. Long was poisoning Derek because he believed Derek had turned on him, but the arsenic was not what actually killed him.

The List of Suspects

The list of suspects is a symbol that April, Mae, and June are looking out for Lila and Rosie even though Lila does not believe this list could...