Survival is the prevalent theme in O'Dell's third novel. The most obvious is the survival of trapped coal miners in Jolly Mount's mine JoJo, but the main theme is how to survive one's own life. Shae-Lynn Penrose is O'Dell's first female protagonist and she is just as real as her other characters. When you first meet her you are impressed with her strength and spirit, and then you find out just how damaged she is. However, the novel shows the incredible spirit of how those who have lived through the worst (whether it be being trapped beneath the earth or having an abusive father) and have still managed to learn to love; and in the case of Shae-Lynn love fiercely. This novel was both fun and beautiful and I would highly recommend it to anyone, but especially those who come from a working class background.