Poppies are a recurring motif throughout the novel and carry both internal and external symbolism. External to the story, poppies are widely known as symbols of World War I and for remembering fallen soldiers. Thomas quotes from John McCrae’s famous poem as he and Ruby discuss a photo of her childhood poppy fields: “In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row” (344). Today, people often wear paper or fabric poppies to honor those who fought for their countries in the World Wars.

In the narrative, the poppies are also an important symbol to Ruby as they represent her childhood home. They symbolize not only a place, but the safety, wonder, and love associated with that place. As Ruby explains, “When I was a little girl, I imagined fairies living among them, and even when I was older, I believed somehow in the flowers’ magic” (354). This symbolism comes to embody not only her past but also her imagined future with Thomas. As Thomas continues his journey, he dreams of the poppy fields himself; they become a symbol of everything he’s working toward.