Robin

Robin is one of the novel’s two main characters and one of the joint narrators. She is a nine-year-old white South African girl who has a tomboy streak and loves playing detective. Her favorite books are Enid Blyton stories, the Faraway Tree and the Secret Seven in particular. She has a twin sister named Cat who is the opposite to her in many ways. Robin is strong and brave, and adventurous whereas Cat is not. Robin is closest to her father and craves affection from her mother who is slightly cold towards her at times. Robin refuses to cry in front of her mother because she once told her that crying makes her ugly. In the beginning of the novel particularly, the reader can see how Robin’s parents’ racist feelings towards black people have seeped down to her as well but it quickly becomes apparent that...