Relationships

One of the primary themes running through the novel is relationships. The novel reveals that even the individuals that make up a family have different relationships among the family members. For example, Penny and her father have a closer relationship than Penny and her mother. Penny and her mother, however, have a unique relationship of their own.

Friendship is another type of relationship the novel tackles. First, Penny doesn't have any friends for the summer she spends in Hog's Hollow before school starts. As she starts school, Penny is able to form a close friendship with Tally and Blake. Even though Gram is Penny's grandmother, she tries to provide friendly advice to Penny to help get her through the tough times of her parents separating and having to start life over again in Hog's Hollow.

Romantic relationships are also tackled in the novel. Penny has a crush on...