Birds

Birds are a symbol that reappear throughout the novel.

Taylor sees birds in the park, the odd ones that all come together because they are outcasts. She sees a bird outside the doctors window nesting in a cactus. When driving to find turtles parents Taylor sees a dead blackbird on the road. These are a few of many examples.

As each of the birds arrives in the story it always seems to fit the general mood of the seen as well as the emotions of the characters. 

Turtle and Taylor are like birds because they have both "flown from the nest." All the troubles they encounter on their journey of life are similar to the troubles birds enoucnter on their plight.

In matties appartment the bird flys in, hits the windpw, but then gets back up. This is parallel to Turtle and she has been abused and has trouble but then gets back to normal

This reminds me of Macbeth Act 4 Scene 2 which is all an extended metaphor relating to that of brids. 

Also estevan says Quetzal is the national bird of indian people in Guatemala.. Which is a BEAUTIFUL bird we saw it in Costa Rica.