Escape
The characters of this story all live in the rural south during the 1930s. This period of history in America, the Great Depression, is characterized by economic turmoil and loss. Unsurprisingly, then, these people all seem to express an unmitigated desire to escape. Each of them has motive, beginning with May Lynn, who, starved for attention her entire childhood, dreamed of becoming a Hollywood star. Sue Ellen wants to escape her neglectful parents, and she's willing to support herself to do it. For his part, Terry is his own worst enemy. He tries to escape from his own identity, hoping to leave the reminders of his sexuality -- his new step siblings -- upriver. Jinx wishes to escape the oppressive culture around her which does not respect her because of racial biases. Even Sue Ellen's mom has a reason to leave: second chances. Trapped in a cycle of self-destructive behavior and addiction, she hopes to find new meaning on this journey to California which could help her turn her life around. With so many reasons to leave, the main characters practically leap at the opportunity to take an adventure.
This need for mental and emotional escape is catalyzed by the entrance of Skunk. He chases the party practically the whole way to Hollywood, looking for his money which was buried with May Lynn. Playing the role of adversary, he is obstacle to the gang on the raft. He is, however, also a benefactor on their quest because his constant pursuit keeps them motivated.
Acceptance
Each of the children on the raft is dealing with two issues: grief and acceptance. They have just discovered the corpse of an old friend washed up in the river, so understandably they're all shaken. The raft voyage is a means by which they can come with and accept the death of their friend, a traumatic incident in every regard. Additionally they're each struggling with personal acceptance. For Sue Ellen it's accepting her parents. For Terry it's accepting his sexuality. And for Jinx it's accepting her ethnic heritage. These are not minor problems, either. These children have received a harsh introduction to life and have dealt with these issues masterfully for their age, but the trip serves as a catalyst for change. They travel to an unknown land and return with a new perspective, one which allows for complete acceptance of reality.
Curiosity
Honestly, these kids are bored. They live in the middle of nowhere, have no money, and don't know anybody really interesting. When May Lynn's body washes up, it's the first incident of excitement in months. Sue Ellen, Terry, and Jinx are instantly curious, if horrified, at the corpse. They take the incident as an inciting one, deciding to capitalize on the kinetic energy of the event with an adventure on the river. Although their travels are perilous and emotionally dense, this band of friends remains motivated by curiosity about the people they meet, places they stop at, and of course their final destination.
