Choices and Consequences

The choices one makes and the way these choices affect his life and the lives of those around him is a major theme in this novel. At the conclusion of the novel, Isabel comes to the realization that one must learn to forgive himself for the mistakes he makes and realize that he is only in charge of his own decisions. Even though one has control only over his own choices, the consequences of these choices are often far reaching.

One of the major choices made in this novel is the one made by Emmy to go to London to meet with a dressmaker about an apprenticeship even though she knew there was the possibility that the city might be bombed. Emmy went ahead with her decision even though her younger sister, Julia, found out about her plan and demanded to be taken along...