Each Tiny Spark

The story starts and ends with videos. Before Chapter 1, Emilia makes a video for her dad. At the end of Chapter 26, the final chapter, Toni makes a video for his daughter. The videos aren’t a form of entertainment or a hobby—their symbolism is crucial and serious: They represent guidance and communication.

Emilia makes videos for her dad to guide him about who she is and what’s going on in her life. The videos are a map of her identity—similar to how the tour guides provide a map to Merryville. As Toni doesn’t reply to Emilia’s video (he doesn’t send her any videos), she doesn’t have a guide to him, and she becomes frustrated as she tries to gauge his emotions. Emilia says, “It seems like he wants to say something, but it’s almost like there’s a cable around his waist, pulling him back every time he wants to move forward” (207). When Toni makes the video, he ditches the symbolic cord and provides Emilia with a guide to his feelings. She understands how his feelings are like her ADHD, and she learns how his war experiences impact his relationship with his family.

The videos Gus and Emilia watch also provide guidance.