The Book

The Book is a symbol of story. The author uses the Book's creation in order to symbolically represent Benny's journey towards self-discovery. By communicating with the Book, Benny learns how to claim ownership of his life and thus his distinct story. The Book teaches him how to perceive his experiences as unique and empowering, rather than impediments to his growth.

Crows

The crows symbolize the divine. After Kenji's death, Annabelle becomes convinced that Kenji is communicating with her via the crows. She thinks that the gifts they leave are in fact Kenji leaving gifts for her. Later, when the crows keep her warm after her fall, she believes the crows have saved her. In these ways, the crows have opened Annabelle to the spiritual world and given her perspective on her sorrow.

Kenji's Shirts

Kenji's shirts symbolize grief. In the months and years following Kenji's...