Alcohol
The motif of alcohol and inebriation is on that repeatedly occurs throughout the novel. This motif is used to depict how ironic the expectations that Pattyn's father has of her are. One such example of this is when Pattyn and Derek are caught drinking by her father. Ironically, they are merely experimenting and are not drunk yet they are punished by her drunk father.
Ethan and Pattyn's Baby
Ethan and Pattyn's baby is a symbol of their rebellion against her father and his expectations of her. The yet unborn baby is a physical manifestation of their sinful act of fornications and thus acts as a symbol of them in rebellion.
Violence
The recurring motif of violence is a manifestation of power plays in interactions between people. This is seen in many instances throughout the novel in which violence is used as a tool to assert dominance over another individual, or at least attempted to be used as such. Pattyn's father is able to suppress her meek, docile, and weak willed mother through his regular beatings of her. He also beats up Pattyn's second boyfriend, Ethan, for simply not being a Mormon, which is emblematic of him attempting to assert dominance over Ethan.
Aunt J
Aunt J is essentially a symbol for freedom. When Pattyn moves to live with her Aunt J, Aunt J treats her with genuine love and respect, in stark contrast to the way her father treats her. Furthermore, Aunt J also teaches Pattyn to become more self confident. This juxtaposition of the ways Pattyn is treated by her father and Aunt J further cement the symbolism of Aunt J as a freedom from her father's oppression.
