Sisters

Animals are a central symbol in the novel, representing Raina’s fears, as well as both the conflict and underlying bond between Raina and Amara. Amara is particularly fond of animals, and this is evident from a young age when she listens to animal stories on repeat, annoying Raina. Afterward, Amara shows off her drawing skills by drawing a full forest full of wild animals, and Raina feels outdone. When Dad takes the girls to the zoo for the day, Amara sees the snakes and is convinced she needs to have one for a pet. Raina dreads the idea, thinking back to the time that she stepped on a dead snake as a young child. She trudges through the jungle within frames that are given their own unique curvy structure with a wide, innocent grin on her face to search for blackberries. When she steps on a snake and panics, she winds up covered in thistles and both of her parents laugh at her. The moment left Raina with a permanent fear of snakes, and this becomes a major source of tension for the girls.

Before Mango the snake is introduced to the family, the girls go through a series of more harmless pets, all of which die. Amara’s persistence shines through and she refuses to give up on pets, and when Raina is given her own room, Amara is given a snake. When the family finally decides to return the snake after finding out it needs live mice, it gets loose in the van and lodges itself under the front seat. There it remains for the entire road trip, with Raina under the impression that it died. This illusion remains until Mango emerges on the way home, and Amara explains how important the snake is to her: “He’s my pet. He’s like a member of the family” (188). Raina agrees to let Amara keep the snake, and even leaves her headphones out for the rest of the trip, showing her efforts to connect with her sister in a way that works for Amara.