Content warning: This guide discusses ableism toward people with ADHD.

“It’s like there’s one Elliott who is there and listening and then there’s another one who is off thinking about something that happened earlier that day, or planning a meal to make later, or noticing how sometimes clouds are fat and sometimes they’re stretched out really thin and what makes that happen? Or, what if we lived in a world where dandelions were considered fancy flowers and roses were considered weeds?”

Gillian McDunn uses examples to help readers contextualize Elliott’s experience of ADHD. By using multiple examples of things that distract him, Elliott mimics how his brain gets carried away by different thoughts. This also highlights his strengths since he is characterized as a curious and imaginative person who thinks about things that others may take for granted.

“Deep in my heart, I know that Kate is actually a nice person. That should make things better, but sometimes it makes it worse. Because maybe I need to be nicer. Maybe I need to do more. But I am trying, whether Dad and Kate see it or not.”

The Impact of Family Dynamics and Divorce on Children is a prominent theme running through the book. Elliott feels conflicted about his family dynamics. He is trying to figure out how to relate to Kate, but he does not know how. His final remark illustrates that Elliott feels misunderstood. Navigating his changing family dynamic is a significant portion of Elliott’s character arc.

“The Goal isn’t perfection—the goal is making something new. Something delicious. Something that brings people together.”

Elliott connects with people through his cooking. He feels less pressure to do things correctly. Other areas of his life, like school, are too rigid for him, and he is often admonished for making mistakes. In the kitchen, he does not have to worry about following orders because, for him, cooking is an act of creation. His recognition that perfection is not always the goal develops throughout the text as he learns to accept what he has.