The Last of the Moon Girls

For the Moon women, herbs have healing powers and symbolize a connection to nature, the land, and past generations. These healing properties were a core part of Althea’s teachings when she was alive, and they become central to Lizzy’s character development while in Salem Creek.

After her death, Althea leaves behind several books. One is her recipe book, which details how to use herbs, such as lavender and vanilla in a soap for insomnia. Another recipe is for “[a]ssurance oil […] combination of cedar and carnation oils, used to inspire confidence” (84). While insomnia is both physical and psychological, the latter oil is meant to help with a purely psychological issue: a lack of self-esteem. Plants heal a variety of ailments, both for clients and for the healer herself. Althea’s Book of Remembrances includes plants that Althea specifically selected for Lizzy to accompany her emotional journey. Evvie helped Althea “press the flowers and herbs” (99), a mark of the close and sustaining bond between the two women. Althea’s discussions of these herbs often mirror what she told Lizzy when she was alive. In other cases, Althea adds additional associations on top of what she drilled into Lizzy.

The healing properties of plants are part of the Moon family’s spiritual tradition. Lizzy thinks, “Rosemary, for remembrance. Basil, for courage. Thyme, for warding off nightmares. It was the catechism of her childhood—the catechism of all the Moon girls” (11). She memorized the associations as one would remember a prayer. In this catechism, and in Althea’s book, rosemary represents “remembrance” (32). However, in the Book of Remembrances, Althea expands on the associations for basil. She begins one entry with “[b]asil…for the mending of rifts” (203). It takes courage to forgive and mend a relationship. This expanded definition helps Lizzy reconnect with her estranged mother, Rhanna.

There are two plants that Althea discusses that help Lizzy make a choice in love. Althea discusses “[d]andelion…for resilience” and “[g]ardenia…for secret love” (366, 376). In the accompanying entries in the Book of Remembrances, Althea reveals that she had a secret love, Peter, and turned down his marriage proposal because of Sabine’s edict. Althea also confesses that she regrets this decision. Althea’s encouragement of Lizzy to go against tradition and follow her heart is what helps her choose to marry Andrew. When he asks why she changes her mind and decides to pursue a long-term love with him, she says that it is because of “[n]ine generations of Moon women, a dandelion—and [him]” (374). Althea’s teachings about plants have a profound impact on both familial and romantic love for Lizzy.

Plants play an important role in Lizzy’s life and the lives of her ancestors. They are connected to the earth and understand how the earth can help them with physical and emotional ailments. Over time, plants can gain more associations; they become more nuanced. Being attuned to the earth means that Lizzy is able to be persuaded by plants and her family’s discussions of them.

Another important symbol is fire, which appears figuratively as well as literally. Figurative fire represents fast and wide moving rumors. Salem Creek residents started a rumor that Althea killed the girls, and “[t]here’s no reasoning with people once an idea takes root. The whispers caught fire, and that was that” (34). The whispered rumors traveled quickly and extensively, overtaking the town. After these rumors circulated, Rhanna cursed the town in the coffee shop, and “[w]ord of the incident spread like a wildfire, and the outcry for something to be done about that Moon woman and her girls quickly swelled” (125). The rumors about Rhanna were linked to the rumors about Althea. They were equally pervasive and damaging.

These figurative fires foreshadow literal fires set by one of the murderers. Dennis first sets the Moon Girl Farm’s orchard on fire with a “Molotov cocktail” (180). A little while later, after Lizzy keeps up her investigation, he sets the Moon’s barn on fire. However, Lizzy uses alcohol, which is an ingredient in the perfume she is making when Dennis attacks, to defend herself. She throws the alcohol at Dennis’s lighter before he lights the cocktail: “His sleeve caught first, quick tongues licking up the spilled kerosene. He stared at it, eyes wide and blank, as if he were stunned to find himself on fire. Eventually, he began to flail” (327). Fire goes from representing rumors to literally destroying property and being a force for self-defense.