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With resilience in adversity serving as a central theme in the book, Pyron consistently explores how a supportive community and a sense of purpose can help contribute to this resilience.

One of the things Piper misses most sorely when she first arrives at the shelter is her time with the Firefly Girls. She misses belonging to a group of some kind, and her brief attempts to find a connection in this way are unsuccessful when Gabriela and her family move out. Although they were barely friends, Piper’s disappointment at Gabriela’s abrupt departure without even saying goodbye displays how deeply she feels the need for community. Thus, she immediately perks up when she discovers Troop 423 at Hope House, and after just one single meeting, she feels like she is on “solid ground” once again. Piper’s response and her immediate change in attitude toward staying in Hope House, which she now begins to view as serendipitous, shows what a powerful impact a community can have.

An added benefit of the Firefly Girls is how it gives Piper one more equally powerful thing: a sense of purpose. Besides the friendships with the girls, what Piper enjoyed about being a part of the Firefly Girls in the past was how it made her feel capable. When she examines her old sash, she reminisces about each of the badges she earned, which underlines how she misses using her skills in impactful ways. Thus, when she joins Troop 423, she is as excited to make friends as she is about having something to do, like selling brownies. Especially in a time of adversity, being able to feel efficient and impactful is extremely helpful in boosting Piper’s mood and attitude and, in turn, her resilience. Thus, a sense of purpose becomes as important as a strong community for Piper to draw strength from.

The narrative further reiterates this importance when the Firefly Girls become involved in Jewel’s story. Piper focuses her energies on reuniting Jewel and Baby and works toward this end with incredible determination. She has an even greater sense of purpose than brownie sales, something that can help change another person’s life. This gives her a sense of perspective about her own life as she works to collect money not for herself but for someone who she believes needs it more. She is even able to convince the Firefly Girls of this, and the effect of having such a goal to work toward is seen in the other girls’ attitudes as well. Along with the emotional investment and effort the girls pour into brownie sales for Jewel and Baby, they also find the courage to tell the world about their backgrounds and stories for Jewel and Baby’s sake, despite the initial shame they felt due to other children looking down on them for living in a shelter.

Ultimately, a strong community and sense of purpose help everyone involved. Jewel and Baby directly benefit from Piper and her friends’ efforts, as they are reunited and able to find a home for themselves. However, the endeavor is equally impactful for Piper: She finds a community for herself where she feels like she belongs, and she is working together with this community for a common, larger purpose. This helps her find acceptance and gratitude in her situation, illustrating the book’s idea that a supportive community and a sense of purpose can help one find resilience in adversity.