Wayétu 'Tutu' Moore

Wayétu 'Tutu' Moore is the author of this book and, in many flashback chapters, is the protagonist of the narrative. Much of the book is told from the young Moore's perspective, and at these times this guide refers to her as 'Tutu' since this is how she calls herself at that age. The parts of the book written from the adult Moore's perspective and at those times the guide refers to her simply as 'Moore.'

Moore's defining characteristic in this book is her attachment to her family and her difficulties in escaping from and reconciling with the family's Liberian past, as she alternatively desires. As a young girl, Moore and her sisters, father, and grandfather fled their hometown during the civil war in Liberia and reached the village of Lai where they hid safely for many months. When they were rescued and...