Symbols I Kissed Shara Wheeler Casey McQuiston

The Peach Rings Symbol in I Kissed Shara Wheeler

What Are Peach Rings?

Peach rings are a gummy candy shaped like a ring, typically dusted with sugar and flavored to mimic a peach. In I Kissed Shara Wheeler, they appear as a specific brand and flavor that Shara Wheeler habitually gives to the cheerleaders who prepare Smith Parker’s game-day treat bags. They are also the candy Shara chooses to leave as a clue for Smith in his locker, tying them directly to her personal tastes and her relationships with the people she kisses.

Where Peach Rings Appear

Peach rings feature in a single major scene, but their resonance echoes throughout the novel. In Chapter 2 (per the outline), Chloe Green and Rory Heron confront Smith Parker about Shara’s disappearance. After showing Smith the note with his locker combination, the three open the locker and find a bag of peach rings tied with a pink ribbon and a second note from Shara. Smith immediately recognizes them: “She always gives a pack to the cheerleaders who make my game day treat bag. They’re my favorite.” The candy thus becomes a personal signature—Shara knows Smith’s preferences and uses that knowledge to signal this is a planned message, not a random item.

The candy also appears indirectly in the code “peach100304” from Shara’s first note to Rory. While “peach” could refer to the fruit, it aligns with the candy motif, and the numbers unlock Smith’s locker—the same locker that contains the peach rings. This suggests that the word “peach” is a deliberate reference to the candy, linking all three recipients through a shared symbolic language.

How Their Meaning Evolves

Initially, the peach rings function as a tool of manipulation and control. Shara has orchestrated an elaborate puzzle for the three people she kissed, and leaving Smith’s favorite candy is a sweetener—literally and figuratively—to soften the revelation of her secret. The candy is a bribe, a lure that makes the bitter pill of her disappearance go down easier. It also underscores Shara’s power: she knows exactly what each person loves, and she weaponizes that knowledge to keep them playing her game.

As the story progresses, however, the peach rings shift toward a symbol of hidden vulnerability. Shara’s note in the locker says, “I don’t know how to tell you the truth. Maybe that’s why I had to do this. … maybe I can show you.” The candy is not just a clue; it is an attempt at communication that bypasses Shara’s usual scripted persona. By choosing something personal and sensory—a taste Smith loves—she tries to convey what she cannot say in words. The peach rings become a tangible expression of her affection and her fear of direct honesty.

By the novel’s end, when Chloe and Shara are an official couple and the friend group gathers at the bonfire (Chapter 25), the power games have dissolved. Chloe burns the pink note cards Shara left for her, and Shara says, “Burn them.” Although peach rings are not literally burned, the act of destroying the written clues symbolically releases the manipulative structure that the candy was part of. What remains is the genuine connection behind the sugary facade.

Character Connections

  • Smith Parker: Peach rings are his favorite candy, a detail he reveals to Chloe and Rory. The candy ties him to Shara in a way that feels intimate—she remembers his treat-bag preferences. Yet Rory’s dismissive comment (“Peach rings are just kinda middle school”) hints at Smith’s immaturity or the childish quality of their relationship at that point. Smith’s reaction—defensive but yearning—shows he is still invested in the sweetness of his romance with Shara, even as it sours.

  • Shara Wheeler: The choice of peach rings is entirely hers. It reflects her love of control and performance: she gives the candy as a gift that appears sweet but is actually a calculated piece of the game. At the same time, the fact that she knows Smith’s favorite candy demonstrates that she pays close attention to the people around her. The candy is a microcosm of her duality—both the manipulative “mean straight girl” (as Chloe initially believes) and the vulnerable queer teen who is desperate to be understood without saying the words herself.

  • Chloe Green: Chloe observes the peach rings without sentiment. As a character who prioritizes winning and logic over emotion, she sees the candy as just another clue in Shara’s puzzle. Her later transformation—from viewing Shara as an adversary to understanding her as a person—parallels the candy’s shift from a tool of manipulation to a token of authenticity.

  • Rory Heron: His cynical remark about peach rings being “middle school” aligns with his role as the detached artist who resists being drawn into Shara’s drama. Yet he remains involved, showing that even he cannot resist the pull of Shara’s candy-coated charm.

Theme Connections

  • Manipulation versus Authenticity: The peach rings embody the sweet exterior that Shara uses to control others. They are a prop in her performance of a perfect, generous girlfriend. But their connection to her genuine knowledge of Smith’s tastes points to the authentic self she hides. The candy is both a lie and a truth, mirroring the central theme of the novel: the tension between performing a role and being your real self. Explore this further on the Manipulation versus Authenticity page.

  • Competition and Rivalry as Intimacy: The peach rings are part of the competitive game Shara initiates. By leaving candy as a clue, she turns rivalry into a shared scavenger hunt that forces Chloe, Rory, and Smith to cooperate. The sweet treat becomes a reward in the contest, blurring the line between adversary and ally. See more on Competition and Rivalry as Intimacy.

  • Identity and Performance: Shara’s gift of peach rings is a performed gesture of kindness. Yet the candy also reveals her true preferences and her desire to connect. The symbol illustrates how identity is constructed through small, deliberate acts—even a candy can be a mask or a mirror. Read about Identity and Performance.

For a broader overview of the novel, visit the main book page. For character-specific insights, see Chloe Green, Shara Wheeler, and Smith Parker.

Study Questions and Answers

1. In what chapter do peach rings first appear, and what is their immediate function in the plot?

They appear in Chapter 2 (per the novel’s chapter numbering, corresponding to the outline’s Chapter 2), when Chloe, Rory, and Smith open Smith’s locker and find a bag of peach rings with a note from Shara. Their immediate function is to serve as part of Shara’s puzzle—a personal clue that confirms she planned her disappearance and wants to engage the three of them in a treasure hunt.

2. How does Rory’s reaction to the peach rings differ from Smith’s, and what does that reveal about their respective relationships with Shara?

Rory dismisses the candy as “middle school,” suggesting he views Shara’s gestures as immature or manipulative. Smith, on the other hand, feels valued—the candy is his favorite, and he sees it as evidence that Shara cares about him. This contrast shows that Smith is still emotionally invested in the relationship and willing to accept Shara’s performances, while Rory remains more skeptical and guarded.

3. What role do peach rings play in Shara’s overall plan for the three people she kissed?

The candy is one of several personalized clues that ensure each recipient feels uniquely addressed. It binds Smith to the puzzle through sentiment, making him more likely to cooperate. On a symbolic level, the peach rings represent the sweetness Shara uses to mask her need for control. They are a bait that draws the trio into her game, forcing them to work together in a way that ultimately breaks down their rivalries.

4. By the end of the novel, has the meaning of peach rings changed? Support your answer with evidence from the story.

Yes. Initially a tool of manipulation, the candy’s meaning evolves into a symbol of Shara’s hidden vulnerability. The act of leaving something personal (Smith’s favorite candy) shows she is trying to communicate authentically, even if she cannot do so directly. By the bonfire scene (Chapter 25), the manipulative games are over; Chloe burns the notes, and Shara endorses the act. The candy no longer needs to function as a lure because the relationships have deepened beyond performance. The sweet, controlled surface has given way to genuine connection.