Perseverance
Projecting key theme throughout the novel, Jessica is the embodiment of perseverance, and also an example of the maxim that achievement is only limited by belief. Jessica has suffered an extremely traumatic accident, and it was not her fault in any way whatsoever, yet her life has been decimated as a result. There are so many obstacles facing her, and standing in the way of her becoming a runner, yet she keeps on going towards her goals. Along the way, she also learns that she can make a real difference to others whilst also learning more about herself.
Personal Growth and Maturity
At the start of the novel, Jessica is like many teenagers who see the world only as it relates to them. Because of the experiences she is being forced to go through, she has to see the world as it affects others as well, and this is also something that the other members of the track team see and experience as well. Each member of the team is usually preoccupied with competing and improving their performances, but now they are focused as a team on fundraising enough money for Jessica's prosthetic, which in turn allows them to grow as people as well.
View of People with Disabilities
When Jessica returns to school, people tend to have one of two reactions to her disability; they either ignore it completely, talk round it, look away from it and otherwise make it the elephant in the room, or they are awkward, tongue-tied and treat her as if she was not only a different person, but a different species entirely. Unaware of this before her accident, Jessica makes it her mission to draw attention to people with disabilities and to show that they should not be treated any differently to their peers. She undertakes the ten mile run, pushing Rosa in part to draw attention to people with disabilities and what they are able to accomplish.
