Maise O’Malley

Maise O’Malley is the narrator and heroine of the novel. At the beginning of the novel, she is starting her senior year of high school with the hopes of leaving behind her childhood fears and becoming an adult. She gets more than she bargains for when she has a fling with a man at a carnival. This man turns out to be the teacher for her film studies class. Because Maise is eighteen, there is no danger that Evan Wilke, the teacher, can be charged with the rape of a minor. Maise is concerned because the relationship could cause him to lose his job as a teacher. Regardless, Maise cannot stay away from Evan. He is the most mature and caring man with whom she has ever been.

Maise’s goal for her life is to attend college for film studies where she wants to...