Faith Sunderly

Faith is 14 years of age as the novel opens. She is traveling with her family to the island of Vane. Faith is the daughter of Erasmus and Myrtle Sunderly, and has a younger brother named Howard. She is intelligent and curious, which means she is not often considered obedient. She is shackled by the social dictates of a time when women are not expected to be intelligent or driven. Women of Faith's social standing are also not expected to have careers. Faith may have initially turned to science and studying as a means of gaining her father's attention, but her efforts fail. Erasmus dismisses her as unimportant and even as a drain on the family's finances. The only exception occurs when he needs Faith's help, and she rushes into that role because she is so desperate for his attention. Her relationship with her mother is also strained...