“Because it was made hundreds of years ago, the people who painted it didn’t know what the universe was like.”

As Cally and her family wrestle with the grief of losing Mom, they find themselves facing the unknown. The book makes several parallels between not fully understanding what life looks like without Mom and the mysteries of space, some of which were evident in the cathedral her family once visited. Over time, Cally’s family learns how to cope, just as the wonders of space became clearer in the years after the cathedral was painted. Grief, like discovery, takes time.

“Mom said singing is like knitting. It ties everything together, especially people.”

Music is one of the most important links between Cally and her family members. Cally is a performer and loves to sing, just like her mom did when she was alive. Cally’s dad plays the guitar but sets it aside after Cally’s mom dies. Throughout the book, music brings the characters together, and eventually, Cally’s dad himself rediscovers the magic of music.

“What I meant was you’ve had some difficult challenges. Things happen in our lives that can change us, make us unsettled.”

Cally is self-conscious of the changes in her personality since her mom’s death. She’s less attentive and more easily distracted than before, and it starts affecting her schoolwork. Mrs. Brooks tries to tell Cally to give herself some grace; grief changes people, and Cally shouldn’t be so hard on herself as she experiences these changes.