This story took place in Brooklyn, New York during the summer of 1912.

The major character is Francie Nolan. Francie changed throughout the story. At the beginning of the story, Francie was eleven. As she matured and battled life's woes, she ended up 16 and a half at the end of the story. In the early 1900's, sixteen was considered an age of womanhood, like eighteen is now. She has long brown hair with eyebrow long bangs. She had pale skin from lack of nourishment. Francie got a well being when she could dump a glass of coffee down the drain and not feel guilty. Her belief was always that things could be worse and that she should do the best with what she has. Her dad had instilled in her the...