Okay Shmoopers, here's a something you should know about nature in The Sky is Everywhere: It's more than just nature. It's magical, sometimes literally. And because Lennie's narrating the story, the way she describes nature usually gives us a sense of how she's feeling at the time. Nature's in her blood, after all—her Gram is the town's garden expert and her uncle is an arborist. These people really know their plants. So it makes sense that nature, something that's both alive and super familiar to Lennie, winds up helping her heal.
Questions About Man and the Natural World
- What does it say about Gram that she has a magic touch with plants? How does her gardening reflect other parts of her personality?
- Why does Nelson keep using the sky as a metaphor for Lennie's love for Joe? For a jump start on this one, be sure to check out the "Symbols" section.
- Why is it so important to Gram to plant flowers by Bailey's grave?
- What purpose does Flying Man's serve in the story? Is it different from any of the other natural settings?
Chew on This
Lennie, Uncle Big, and Gram each specialize in a part of nature—the forest, trees, and flowers, which are also metaphors for their individual personalities.
The Sky is Everywhere would lose key parts of its magic if it were set in a city.