The theme of the novel is family sticks together to survive In the novel it stated that:”and don’t start skipping meals,”he said. So matt is trying to protect the Miranda not to eat less and he doesn’t want nobody to die so he is showing kindness another part in the novel that shows the theme is when Matt says “she has the garden going .And we still have plenty of canned goods”.these shows that they have enough food to survive also it means that they have a chance. Another part that shows the theme is when Matt started cutting tree wood for they could put in the fire. And they could be warm when winter starts and for they can not freeze to death. I Know this because in the text it stated that he blocked the window with wood I got this