While the stories in Essex County may not be directly connected in the story, we learn at the end of the novel that there is a common thread to all of the stories. All of these stories are connected in that they are all about two families that reside in Essex County. These two families have had an intertwined history throughout the last 100 or so years.
Book One: Tales from the Farm
In the beginning of the story, we see Lester imagining that he can fly around the farm. This perspective is an introduction to the way that Lemire will communicate that he is giving us a picture of the wider situation.
Book Two: Ghost Stories
In learning about Mr. Lebuff, who thinks of himself as Lou; we once again see a return to the overhead perspective. When he gets into an argument with his nurse, we see a crow startled by the noise of the front door slamming.
Book Three: The Country Nurse
Traveling further back in time, we learn the story of how the families came to inhabit Essex County in the first place. In this part of the graphic novel, it is revealed that the crow we keep seeing is like the crow that Mr. Gerrard (who rescued the children and nun from a burning building) kept as a pet.
The crow flies above the group, helping to lead them to safety. In the same way, throughout the book crows are often seen flying above the people who live in Essex County. It appears that these birds are still acting like guardians.
For a greater understanding of the story, and previous examinations of how Lemire uses framing to tell his story, check out these two posts: Framing use 1; Framing use 2.
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