Content warning: This section of the guide discusses child abuse and drug addiction.

A central theme developed in the novel is the power of motherhood. One of the ways Kristin Hannah develops this theme is by discussing the negative impact that mothers can have on their daughters. Because Lexi’s mom, Lorena, had substance use disorder and spent a lot of time incarcerated, Lexi grew up in foster care. This upbringing gives Lexi a negative self-image and makes her self-conscious about her past. She also feels abandoned. Jude likewise grows up with an absent mother, making her question why Caroline no longer loves her and won’t take care of her after her father’s death. Jude’s experience with her mother makes her fearful of becoming a mother, as she worries that she’ll be uncaring like Caroline, who “handled motherhood as if it were radioactive waste” (108). This histrionic language highlights the intensity of Jude’s feelings. The reference to waste juxtaposes with Jude’s maternal style of control and order.

Despite Lexi’s and Jude’s efforts, they ultimately find themselves in similar situations as their mothers. Lexi first feels this connection during her first night in prison. Lexi thinks of her mother on her bunk during the first night and says to herself: “Here I am, Mom.