What is the theme in A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins?

Another theme is the importance of family. The author will be in a rush to get away from his family. He heads out into the world with no one by his side except his dog, Cooper. While Peter Jenks appears to get great relief from being out on his own it will become apparent that he is human and will begin to long for familiar faces and those he loves. Cooper will become closer to the author as they depend on each other. When Cooper dies Peter will be as sad as if he had laid a brother down.