Benedetta “Benny” Silva

Benedetta “Benny” Silva is the first-person narrator for the portions of the novel set in 1987. Benny is a first-year teacher at a high school in Augustine, Louisiana. The poor and underprivileged children attend this school while the rich kids and those with athletic ability attend a posh school near the lake. Benny applied for the job with the hopes of getting her student loans forgiven.

Benny becomes obsessed with the history of Goswood Grove and soon has her students interested in a living history project they have dubbed Tales from the Underground. Even though she has been warned that the project might get backlash from the community, Benny does not realize how serious this backlash will be until one of the school board members, a Gossett, threatens to get Benny fired if she continues encouraging the students to learn about their past.

Benny is angered by...