Sunflowers

Sunflowers are a symbol of danger on the Underground Railroad. Jemma sees one of these sunflowers displayed on a gate in Chapter 6 but does not know the meaning until much later.

Accents

Accents when speaking represent one's origin. Mrs. Woolsey is pleased when a boy recognizes that she is from Virginia based entirely on her accent. When Anne-May arrives in New York, she is not welcomed at an upscale hotel because of her Southern accent.

A Last Name

For Jemma, having a last name would mean that she matters. She is one of the slaves on the Peeler Plantation, owned by Anne-May. Anne-May has forbidden them from taking either Wilson or Watson as their last names.

Black Clothing

Black is a symbol of mourning, and several of the characters wear black clothing or black armbands throughout much of the novel to demonstrate they have lost loved...