Mary Ann

The narrator's mother, and the focus of the book. Mary Ann is in her early seventies at the beginning of the book when she is diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. She is an avid reader, and began her life studying theater. As she grows older, she becomes increasingly interested in civil rights issues, and takes active roles in educating women in particular around the world. When she is diagnosed with cancer, she is heavily involved in trying to construct a mobile library for Afghanistan. She has three children, including the narrator Will, and is very close to her several grandchildren. She is widely known and respected, and receives all kinds of care and support from friends and family throughout her illness. Despite the fact that she survives much longer than those with pancreatic cancer generally live, she never considers herself brave or strong, since she knows many people...