Lost and Found

Jamee, Darcy’s younger sister, plays a crucial role in the story’s exploration of How Family Shapes Growth in Adolescence. She also helps to demonstrate the theme of the bonds of sisterhood through her relationship with Darcy. Jamee’s transformation after their father left is profound; she becomes angry and closed off, retreating into rap music, befriending questionable people, and distancing herself from the family. Jamee’s bitterness stems from the deep hurt caused by her father's leaving, which Darcy recalls with sorrow: “Daddy had found something else that meant more to him than his family. Darcy remembered it was about then that Jamee slowly began to change, to have angry, sad moods, to be cynical” (18). Her anger and isolation only get worse over time, and her emotional withdrawal affects her relationship with her grandma, whom she stops turning to for comfort. These differences between her reaction and Darcy’s highlight her role as a foil for Darcy’s character, as they illustrate two distinct ways that people can respond to grief and loss.

Jamee tries to project an image of strength, but her journey over the course of the novel is defined by moments of vulnerability as she struggles to heal from her father’s abandonment and her fear of her grandmother’s decline. Her reaction to Darcy’s revelation that Bobby is manipulating her illustrates her continued defensiveness and anger. This shows the emotional distance that has grown between them, even as Darcy desperately tries to help. Darcy reflects on the state of Jamee’s life and how it has deteriorated: “In Jamee’s world of ear-shattering hip-hop music, of a much loved, now almost lost Grandma, a boyfriend who hurt and betrayed her, a father who abandoned her, even a slim thread of hope flared bright against the darkness. But now it too had gone out” (96). In the story’s climax, Jamee runs away, further illuminating her desperate attempt to escape the painful reality of her life. She is ultimately found at the family’s favorite tree, a place that holds sentimental value as a place of simpler times, innocence, and shared joy. Jamee’s journey is a new understanding of how one confronts the painful realities of life and how important her loved ones can be during those times.

Grandma’s presence in the girls’ lives adds an important element of memory and wisdom, even as her memory begins to fade due to a stroke. While Grandma struggles with memory loss, she often recalls moments from the past with clarity, providing Darcy and Jamee with a connection to the past as well as important advice about the present. One of Grandma’s most important lessons is about forgiveness: “Let bygones be bygones, […] Carrying grudges is like carrying an open flame in your pocket. It’s gonna burn you before it burns anybody else” (59). This advice becomes a guiding principle for Darcy, who tries to live by it even as she faces the challenges of a struggling family.

Grandma’s memories also serve as a connection to the family’s history. She recalls the times when her children were young, and the family was still all together. Her rare moments of lucidness offer comfort to Darcy, who longs for the closeness the family once had. Additionally, the story of the “Moon Monster,” a tale Grandma used to tell, helps anchor the family’s connection to the past. When Jamee is looking for help, she first reaches out to her grandma, highlighting Grandma’s importance as a family member and source of wisdom and support. Grandma’s memory of Jamee’s happiness in the mountains reinforces her wisdom and insight as she provides the crucial clue that leads them to find Jamee.

Darcy and Jamee’s mom is the personification of the emotional and financial struggles of the family. She works long hours as a nurse and constantly worries about money, demonstrating the pressures of single motherhood and the toll it takes on her well-being. Her sense of guilt about the family’s disintegration is felt by Darcy all the time, as seen when Mom reflects, “I did blow it marrying your father. Maybe I was a bad wife, or he wouldn’t have left me like that” (50). Darcy often has to comfort and reassure her mother in these situations, forcing her to adopt an adult role that she is not fully ready for. This situation only increases Mom’s guilt, contributing to her sense of inadequacy as a mother, especially as Jamee acts out in ways that she cannot fully comprehend or control. When their mom hears about their father’s return, she is overwhelmed by shock and sorrow, unable to process the news properly: “[T]he racking sobs bubbled through the darkness” (78). This moment showcases her vulnerability while also hinting at the reason that her daughters learned to hide their emotions.

Darcy and Jamee’s father plays a key role in the story, acting as the catalyst for change and one of the people who pushes Darcy toward embracing possibilities and questioning preconceptions. His abandonment five years ago, after taking the girls out for ice cream, left a massive hole in the family, and everyone had to compensate for his absence. His abandonment is a major source of pain for Jamee, who was closest to her father. Darcy misses her father as well but approaches the situation differently: She often reflects on the happier times before he left, defined by memories of good times with him.

When their father returns, he appears overweight and tired, which makes him feel like a stranger to Darcy, who remembers him being healthy and youthful. His appearance reflects the emotional toll of his choice to leave the family and attempt to find a more superficial form of fulfillment. Carl is the one who knows where to find Jamee, suggesting that he was never fully disconnected from the family or those memories after all. His role in finding Jamee and his slow process of attempting redemption suggest the possibility of healing, which is further hinted at by the way Darcy’s parents seem to be reconciling in the novel’s closing moments. This potential for redemption is not yet guaranteed, and the family’s forgiveness of him is still developing.

Tarah is initially introduced as a character who is misunderstood and judged by Darcy as “low class” and obnoxious. However, she accuses Darcy of being stuck up and disconnected from those around her, sensing Darcy’s judgment of her and refusing to accept the assessment. As the story progresses, Tarah’s character is shown to have multiple layers. She apologizes to Darcy, showing a strength of character that Darcy did not expect. This moment of change becomes the beginning of their friendship, and Darcy comes to realize that Tarah, like everyone else, is just a person with struggles.

Tarah also serves as a mentor for Darcy as she learns to reassess her perspectives and the people in her life. Tarah is filled with wisdom, forgiveness, and understanding: “You can’t give up on people, girl, you hear what I’m sayin’? God don’t give up on us, no matter what we do. So where we get off giving up on each other?” (93). This line is central to the theme of questioning preconceptions and embracing possibilities that runs throughout the novel. Tarah and Cooper become pivotal characters in helping Darcy through the emotional turmoil she faces. They offer loyalty, support, and friendship when Darcy needs it the most. As the story progresses, Tarah’s role in Darcy’s life evolves from one of initial conflict to a source of comfort and emotional growth. Tarah and Cooper also join with the family to search for Jamee when she runs away, showing their deep commitment to Darcy.

Cooper’s character supports the theme of questioning preconceptions and embracing possibilities. Darcy initially thinks Cooper is “low class” and not worth getting to know, and he annoys Darcy by putting a bug down her shirt, which seems to prove the negative image of him. As the story progresses, Darcy’s view of Cooper shifts as she sees his true character, and she learns not to judge others based on first impressions. When Cooper saves Darcy from an attack, she begins to see his strengths. Tarah explains that Cooper is a good person with dreams of becoming a firefighter, challenging Darcy’s assumptions about him.

Cooper, like Tarah, becomes an important figure in Darcy’s life, offering support and friendship during a chaotic and challenging time and modelling a healthy friendship. His friendship with Darcy evolves as he helps with finding Jamee and even saves Darcy from being attacked by Bobby, further cementing his role as a loyal and caring friend. Cooper proves to be a supportive figure when Darcy needs it most.

Bobby is an antagonistic figure in the story. He is supposedly Jamee’s friend, but he manipulates her emotions, encouraging her to steal for him. Darcy overhears him bragging about this and tells Jamee, who denies it but is clearly hurt. Jamee’s defense of Bobby and her angry outbursts are indicative of her pain, as she has already been hurt and abandoned before. Darcy’s constant concern for Jamee showcases the bonds of sisterhood that persist even through conflict. Bobby’s character is also pivotal in demonstrating Darcy’s strength and bravery, as she defends herself in the school parking lot when Bobby and his friend attack her, highlighting how Darcy refuses to give in to people who bully her or her sister.