The novel A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove by James Moloney explores how the character Carl through various complications in life grows and changes his perspective on certain things.

Carl searches for a sense of belonging after being left to provide for himself and brother after his mother and sister ran away.

Recent events in Carls life left him with the thought that his mother never loved him and that he ruined her life. Carls queries are confirmed during a conversation with him and his aunt.

Through the rhetorical question “..who’s going to love you if your own mother doesn’t” Aunt Beryl maliciously taunts Carl into believing that he doesn't’ belong with anyone because nobody loves him. Eventually during the book Carl finds that he feels