The parallel disappearances of two Van Laar children create a haunting symmetry that forces characters to confront unresolved traumas. Moore expertly demonstrates how past events continue to shape present actions, as family members struggle with guilt, fear, and the possibility that history has tragically repeated itself.

The novel intricately examines the complex relationship between the privileged Van Laar family and their dependent workforce. Through the lens of the summer camp setting, Moore reveals how economic disparities create invisible barriers and unspoken tensions that influence every aspect of the investigation and interpersonal relationships.

The Adirondack wilderness serves as both sanctuary and threat, embodying the novel's central paradox. The woods represent freedom and danger, protection and exposure, playing a crucial role in both disappearances while symbolizing the wild, untameable aspects of human nature itself.