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The Ghost
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in We Deserve Monuments, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Truth vs. Secrecy
Independence and Coming of Age
Family, Inheritance, and Legacy
Grief, Resentment, and Isolation
Racism, History, and Resistance
Summary
Analysis
Avery comes inside with the bags to find her mother trying to calm herself down in the kitchen while Sam comforts her. Mama Letty has returned to her nap. When Zora sees Avery, she composes herself and hides her anxiety. Neither Zora nor Sam will explain to Avery the tension between Zora and Mama Letty. Sam leads Avery to her room, which was Zora’s childhood bedroom, and reminds Avery of the family motto: “Focus forward.”
Returning to Bardell and reuniting with Mama Letty is clearly stressful for Zora, but Zora tries to hide this from Avery. The family has returned to a place where the past affects them deeply, with Avery even staying in Zora’s childhood room, a tangible representation of Zora’s past in Bardell. Despite this, she tries to conceal her past from Avery, and Sam assists her by insisting that Avery keep her attention on the present and future.
Active
Themes
Avery keeps the motto in mind as she tries to stop thinking about Simone. She finds Simone attractive, but Avery assumes Simone is straight, and she doesn’t want to pursue a relationship in such a conservative place anyway. Reminding herself to “focus forward” helped Avery cope with the death of her paternal grandmother, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increasing tensions in global politics. Avery runs into Mama Letty and, after a terse exchange, Avery tells herself that her time in Bardell is only temporary.
The politically charged times in which Avery has grown up have served to shape her into a very politically conscious person. She is aware of the impact her identity as a biracial LGBTQ+ person has had on her life so far, and she is also aware that these aspects of her identity might make her especially vulnerable to violence and bigotry in a conservative Southern town.
Active
Themes
Avery texts Kelsi and their mutual friend Hikari. Her friends make fun of the classes Avery will be taking at Beckwith and imply that Avery won’t get into her dream school, Georgetown, with so few advanced classes. All three of them plan to go to Georgetown together, but since her breakup with Kelsi, Avery’s passion for academics and her love for her best friends have both diminished. Zora finds Avery in her room, and the two look over Zora’s old high school yearbook before Zora sends Avery to talk to Mama Letty.
Active
Themes
Avery finds Mama Letty smoking on the porch, and Mama Letty nicknames Avery “Fish” thanks to her lip piercing. They once again exchange only a few words. Simone comes home with her friend Jade and invites Avery to spend time with them. Avery doesn’t want to get attached to anything or anyone in Bardell, so she declines the offer. Carole and Mama Letty remark disapprovingly about Simone and Jade’s friendship. When Avery asks why, Mama Letty grins and warns Avery that asking questions might uncover secrets.
Active
Themes
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