Throughout the story, many symbols of love and kindness appear and help Carley learn to trust and accept the changes in her life—and to realize that they’re positive changes. For example, Mrs. Murphy consistently shows her love not only in words but in deeds and actions: She’s eager for Daniel to do well at basketball, she eases Michael Eric’s dramas with soft words of reason and hugs, and on Carley’s last night at the Murphys, she makes Carley’s favorite dinner, including a whole apple pie just for her.

Despite Carley’s facade of toughness, she learns the strength of vulnerability, which she shows through her care and love toward others throughout the book: She gives Michael Eric the stuffed giraffe that came in her backpack “care package” from Family Services when he goes to hospital after a seizure, despite her having arrived at the Murphys with little else. Carley’s help during the seizure event is calm, direct, and sincere; she’s genuinely relieved to learn that Michael Eric is all right, and she generously hands the phone immediately to Daniel when Mrs. Murphy calls. In addition, Carley tries to make Toni feel better after she reveals the difficulty she has with her own mother; Carley turns her posh brand-name shirt around and inside out in a symbolic gesture of solidarity with Toni against the “clones” her mother represents.