What is the theme in The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick?

One important theme in the novel is family. Harold is the only family Homer has. Although they live with an uncle, the uncle is cruel and is not really related to them. When Harold is sold into the army to take the place of a rich man's son, Homer decides he has to save him. Homer worries that Harold will be killed before Homer can find him. Finding Harold is all Homer can think about as he experiences one adventure after another throughout the novel.

When Homer finds his older brother, he discovers that not only does Harold like be away from the responsibility of caring for his baby brother, but that he has had difficulties with authority and been arrested for mutiny. Harold does not seem to be the brother Homer has always thought he was. Homer is not the person Harold thought he was either. Homer is not the baby Harold thinks he is. In fact, Homer proves that he can care for Harold just as well as Harold can care for Homer.

In the end, Homer and Harold discover that they need each other more than one needs to care for the other. Homer and Harold also find a new family, a family where they do not have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. Family finds a new definition for Homer and Harold as this novel reaches its conclusion, but the importance of family is never diminished. For this reason, family is a theme of the novel.