Vans

The vans represent chaos and change for Rumpus because a man in a van drives him into the forest and dumps him out.

Granville Place

Granville Place is an institution with a terrible reputation. To Maggie, it is a symbol of the punishment for having a stutter. To her father, it symbolizes the hope of curing Maggie of her stutter, though he comes to realize it is not where she should be.

The Wound on Maggie's Hand

The wound on Maggie's hand is a symbol of Maggie's desperation not to speak in front of others. She stabs herself with a pencil to avoid reading in class, and this prompts Maggie's trip to stay with Fred.

Nurse Nora

Nurse Nora is a symbol of the harsh adults who feel all children should behave in specific ways. She has no sympathy toward Maggie. The fact that Nurse Nora...