Eddie's Journal

Eddie's journal is used in the novel as a symbol of the power of stories and memory. Eddie's journal contains all the stories that Nana has ever told him--of Brer Rabbit, Anansi the Spider, Gum Baby, and many more--as well as some stories he made up himself. Even though it is a worn leathered object, the journal is precious to Tristan because it contains the stories Eddie loved. It is filled with his personality. The journal has folktales and mythological tales, but it also is a symbol of their friendship. Tristan goes to great lengths to recover the journal because it is the object that reminds him most of his dead friend. The journal also glows emerald-green, something that only Tristan can see. This represents the fact that even though Eddie is gone, his personality is still burning brightly within its pages.

The Bottle Tree