The ability to function well as part of a group is extremely important in Orphan Island—only nine children live on the island, and they have no way to leave (until it’s their “time”) and no contact with other people from the outside world. It seems extremely unlikely that any one child could survive and thrive alone on the island; therefore, it’s essential that each of them remain part of the group while living there. Of course, the children disagree with each other sometimes, just as siblings or family members would, but some struggle more than others to keep peace within the group or find a specific role that they’re well suited for. The protagonist, Jinny, is one of the characters who finds it difficult to function as part of a group, especially when the needs and preferences of the others seem to conflict with her own. However, ultimately, Jinny and the others all learn that the needs of the group are greater than individual needs and that sometimes individual needs must be put on hold for the benefit of the group.

Although all the children eventually learn to prioritize the group’s needs over their individual needs, this doesn’t mean that they give up their individual identities or the traits that make them unique.