Freedom
Freedom is a theme of the novel. M.C. dreams of being free of the mountain and the dangers that lurk there. He wants to leave the mountain for the safety of his family. He climbs his 40-foot pole to view the outside world and dream about what it would be like out there. He seeks freedom from perils of the mountain, as Sarah did when she sought refuge on the mountain. She was seeking freedom from slavery and the perils of the surrounding world.
Lurhetta seeks freedom from her mundane life. She gets this by traveling on her own to places she has never seen. Being on her own is the ultimate level of freedom. She leaves Sarah’s mountain when she begins to forge friendships with M.C. and Ben because these friendships hinder her freedom to do and go wherever she pleases.
Community
Community is a theme of the novel. The Killburn family live in their own little community on their farm. Each person has a part in keeping the farm going and sustainable. They grow their food and have everything that they need to survive within their community. The fact that they are outcasts makes their tightknit community an important factor in Ben’s life.
Seeing where Ben lives makes M.C. see Ben in a different light. He can see how family is as important to the Killburn’s as it is the Higgins. It shows that they are not different from other families, they just have different physical attributes.
Family
Family is a theme of the novel. The Higgins family is close knit. They talk to one another about their feelings and fears. This sense of family unites them against everyone with whom they come in contact. Banina is the center of their family and keeps everyone together. If she leaves the mountain, everyone would follow. Therefore M.C. centers his plans on making Banina a star so that when she leaves, the family will leave the mountain.
Family is also important to the Killburns. They are treated as outcasts in the community, so they congregate on their land making a self-sustaining farm. They protect one another and do not let anyone make them feel inferior.
Trust
Trust is a theme of the novel. Lurhetta has issues with trust when she first meets M.C. She has no trust in others and expects the worst from the people she meets. Spending time with M.C. and his brothers and sister makes her more trusting. Lurhetta begins to open up and more readily answer questions about herself. M.C. sees this more when they are at the Killburn’s farm. Lurhetta as an easy manner with the Killburns more so than she did with his family.
By leaving her knife for M.C., Lurhetta shows her trust in him and that she no longer needs a weapon to ward off danger. She has a new trust in her fellow man. Seeing how the people live simply and look after one another in this small community makes her rebuild her trust in people.
Superstition
Superstition is a theme of the novel. The Killburns are seen as witch-like because they have six fingers and six toes on each hand and foot. Jones Higgins will not touch anything that Mr. Killburn has touched. They are looked down upon because of their physical differences. Their ability to commune with nature and their respect of the land also sets them apart.
Lurhetta cannot believe that the Killburns are looked down upon because of their appearance. Her disdain makes M.C. feel ashamed of his fear. She finds the way they live to be fascinating and appreciates how they work together and value the environment.
