Author: Anne Tyler
The main theme:
The main theme is identity, as Jean and other characters struggle to discover who they are, and what role their country or upbringing plays in that.
Andrea Hull: Andrea Hull, the daughter of another missionary, is Jean's best friend. A few years older and far more sophisticated than Jean, she understands hairstyles, popular dances, fashion, and boys. Jean admires and even envies Andrea's worldliness. The Hulls have an adopted son, David, who longs to discover his real parents.
Nola: Benny's mom, Nola, is tired of living in small-town Missouri, and longs to be back in New Orleans. Benny's dad, Calvin, grew up in Dennis Acres and could never imagine leaving it, and his “collectibles,” behind. In Homesick, the new novel by Kate Klise, these conflicting emotions become too much.