The theme of the novel is that you should accept people's differences. Another theme represented in 'Petey', is that you should always have a positive look on life. Throughout the book, people didn't talk to or interact with Petey because he looked different in a wheelchair. He didn't understand this when he was young, especially when people labeled him as an idiot. Many people in the asylum were like this and were actually very intelligent. In the early 1900s there wasn't a lot of information in the medical field so people tended to think they were strange and dumb. In the book, Petey was always strongly happy and that is what made this story so amazing. No matter what obstacle he faced such as illness or loss of friends, he was looking ahead and just accepted the past for what it was. He is a great role model for all. On p.277, Trevor thought "Petey had taught him so much, especially how to have fun and appreciate life." All the people he talked to he touched their hearts with his caring and curious personality. Petey wished that people could just understand what he was going through and that is what we have to do to accept people and what they had gone  through.