Finding Audrey

Rhubarb symbolizes the restorative nature of Audrey’s healing process and the role that supportive relationships play in that process. During one of Audrey’s first interactions with Linus, the two pass notes back and forth to communicate. In one of his notes, Linus reassures Audrey that she won’t always feel as anxious as she currently does. He then compares her to rhubarb by saying that his aunt grows a special kind of rhubarb in dark sheds over the winter. When that rhubarb is ready to be picked, Linus explains, it’s the best rhubarb anyone can find.

As the novel progresses, Linus continues to affectionately refer to Audrey as “rhubarb.” That affectionate nickname shows Linus’s support for Audrey and his belief in her as she continues to go through the process of healing from past trauma. Near the end of the book, Linus gives Audrey a shirt with a rhubarb on it. Audrey is happy with the gift and is also excited that she and Linus share a kind of inside joke. In that way, the novel underlines the idea that rhubarb isn’t just a symbol of Audrey’s healing process but is also a sign of how much Audrey values the supportive relationships, especially her relationship with Linus, that help her throughout that healing process.