Flora Belle Buckman

Flora Belle Buckman is a ten year old girl who describes herself as a cynic. Just this description tells the reader that Flora is not an ordinary girl, but a very intelligent young woman. Flora’s parents have recently divorced and Flora blames her mother for the break. For this reason, Flora does not get along with her mother. Flora and her mother are often at odds with one another. Therefore, it is no surprise when Flora, who has discovered a special squirrel she believes might be a superhero, thinks her mother is the squirrel’s arch-nemesis.

Flora spends much of the novel befriending and attempting to protect her squirrel Ulysses. By doing this, Flora places her mother in the position of being her enemy. This is a difficult position for Flora’s mother despite the fact that she plays right into Flora’s game by...