42 pages • 1-hour read
Lost and Found
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Rap Music
In Lost and Found, rap music is a recurring motif that is used to illuminate the tension between characters’ emotions and their environment. The motif is introduced in the first scene, with Jamee blasting rap music, causing Darcy to wince. At first, it seems this is because Darcy finds the music annoying, but in truth, it is because of what the music represents: her sister’s anger and withdrawal. This moment emphasizes the divide between the sisters and sets up the contrast between Jamee’s chaotic, rebellious world and Darcy’s more reserved, introverted nature. As Jamee retreats into rap music, it becomes her refuge from the struggles she faces, particularly the emotional toll of their father’s abandonment and the chaotic dynamics within the family.
Later in the story, rap music is used as foreshadowing for Bobby’s attack against Darcy: “Maybe you gonna die / Ain’t it a shame?” (80). The lyrics are threatening and agitating, and they hint toward the moment that Bobby accosts Darcy before school. The lyrics are repeated during the attack, intensifying the dramatic moment. As Darcy faces the threat of violence, the rap song acts as a soundtrack to her fear and helplessness, with lyrics repeating throughout the scene. Ultimately, rap becomes a way for Jamee to express her internal chaos, while for Darcy, it represents the alienation she feels from her sister’s experiences of adolescence. Despite their differences, the bonds of sisterhood remain intact as Darcy continues to fight for Jamee.
Memories
Memories are an important motif in the story, heavily influencing the characters’ development and even helping to find Jamee after she runs away. For Darcy and Jamee, memories of the past lead to both comfort and pain. The memory of the last day with their father is a significant memory for both sisters, reminding them of the happiness they once shared with him before he left and how quickly it disappeared without any explanation. Darcy often reflects on the ease of those times before he left, thinking of “the visits to the giant cedar tree where he dubbed Jamee a princess” (75). This memory is symbolic of a lost innocence, before their father left and everything became more complicated. Memories flow throughout the story, accenting various moments, influencing emotional states, and inspiring Darcy to begin Questioning Preconceptions and Embracing Possibilities, including of her father. Darcy has many positive memories of her father that conflict with her anger toward him, allowing her to slowly find a way to open up to him.
The motif of memories extends to the bond that each of the sisters has with their grandma. Grandma’s memories of hiking and being young offer moments of escape into a happier time, contrasting with the current emotional turmoil the family faces. Grandma’s advice about not holding grudges speaks to the power of memories to inspire change. Additionally, the story of hiking with the family and hearing “The Tale of the Moon Monster” is an important shared memory that symbolizes the connection between childhood and the present (32). For Jamee, those happier memories propel her to run away to the very source of those experiences, in the hopes of returning to a simpler time.
The Moon
The moon is a key symbol in the story, particularly in the form of “The Tale of the Moon Monster,” shared originally by Grandma and later told by Darcy and Jamee’s mother on hiking trips (32). This family story represents the loneliness that each of the family members feels in their own way, despite the fact that they are together. It also serves as a reminder of the innocence of the past, a time when the sisters were able to enjoy simple pleasures like listening to stories and exploring the outdoors with their parents together. For Darcy and Jamee, the moon and the family story are deeply intertwined with their childhood and their perceptions of the world before their father’s departure. The moon thus becomes a symbol of both lost innocence and the possibility of healing.
For Darcy, the moon represents a longing for the stability and simplicity of her youth and a time when life was simpler and brighter. For Jamee, the moon is connected to her sense of longing for the past and her desire to escape, as she searches for meaning in a world that has left her feeling abandoned and hurt. The moon symbolizes the emotional distance between the sisters, which can only be regained through mutual understanding and reconnecting. Jamee’s decision to return to the mountains and the place where the family used to gaze at the moon together is her way of forcing change and attempting to reconnect to a time in her life that now feels lost.
The Tree in the Mountains
The tree in the mountains is a key symbol in Lost and Found, representing childhood innocence and the loss of the feelings of security and peace that accompany that innocence. This tree serves as a focus for the family’s memories, particularly for Jamee, who is found there by her father after she runs away. The tree itself is a representation of the ideal version of their family, as being together, happy, and fulfilled. When Jamee is found at the tree, it signifies her attempt to return to a simpler, more comforting time in her life, before the trauma of abandonment and emotional turmoil.
The tree also works as an anchor for the family in times of crisis. It serves as a place to return to, both physically and emotionally. It is where Darcy and Jamee’s father once dubbed Jamee a princess, which even Darcy remembers as a fond time. The tree evolves into a symbol of the emotional grounding that the family once had and which Jamee now seeks to rebuild. It represents the strength of family connections, even in the face of hardship, and thus becomes a symbol of hope that the bonds between them can be rebuilt.
Unlock the meaning behind every key symbol & motif
See how recurring imagery, objects, and ideas shape the narrative.
- Explore how the author builds meaning through symbolism
- Understand what symbols & motifs represent in the text
- Connect recurring ideas to themes, characters, and events