Outlawed

The women of Hole in the Wall are in disguise so often that it can be difficult to tell when they’re being their true selves. Disguises protect the wearer, trick others, and act as manifestations of the Gang’s different selves. Through the symbol of disguise, North suggests that people have several different versions of who they actually are. Disguises express these different facts of the self. News, for example, doesn’t consider dressing up as a man a disguise, even though it serves to protect her identity as a woman. The Kid’s disguise is so integral to their character that the disguise becomes the person. Furthermore, though the Hole in the Wall Gang wear disguises with intention, North suggests that everyone wears some sort of disguise when trying to fit in. 

Horses are an important symbol of power. Horses are the Gang’s lifeline; with a horse, they can travel fast, rob more, and live better lives. They treat their horses with love and respect. When Ada first meets her horse Amity, she must learn how to establish a trust by communicating nonverbally. When Amity stops bucking, and accepts and even loves Ada, Ada discovers the power of connecting with a fellow living creature.