Mack and the reader learn later that Kate blames herself for Missy's death, leading her to cut herself off from family and friends since she believes they blame her as well. Of Kate, Young writes, 'Although no one involved was left unmarked by the tragedy, Kate seemed to have been affected the most, disappearing into a shell.It was as if something had died inside her and now was slowly infecting her from the inside, spilling out occasionally in bitter words or emotionless silence' (66).

Mack and Kate, on the other hand, demonstrate what can happen when one does not work through grief with open communication. Though Josh does not forget about his sister's death, he allows himself to keep living-forming relationships and having positive experiences-and does not blame himself.

He was also preparing to graduate from high school with all the distractions that his senior year provided' (66). E-mail and the telephone gave him an outlet for his pain, and she had given him the time and space to grieve. Young writes, 'Josh fared much better, due in part to the long-distance relationship he had kept up with Amber. Through the character of Josh, Missy's older brother, Young demonstrates how a person who maintains relationships and works through their pain rather than bottling it up can deal with grief successfully.

After Missy's disappearance, the author shows her family coping in different ways. The Shack shows that there are many ways of dealing with grief, and points to love and openness as the way to heal after a loss. One of the most important messages of the book is that Christians who are doubting their faith can take little steps toward a relationship with God, especially by relinquishing their judgement of people and reliance on hierarchies of power. However, other parts of Christianity are reinforced, such as the literal truth of stories including Jesus's crucifixion and the Garden of Eden. For example, Jesus criticizes the church's status as an institution rather than a relationship.

Parts of contemporary Christianity are criticized by Mack, the main character, and by God in the form of Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu. It follows that the main theme of the book is religion, particularly Christianity. William Paul Young initially wrote The Shackas a way to show his children and a few close friends his religious beliefs and the path he took to spiritual fulfillment.

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