Maya Andersson

Maya Andersson is the 16-year-old sister to Leo Andersson, and the daughter of Peter and Kira Andersson. Her best friend is Ana. Ana saved her life when she fell through a hole in the ice as a child. The two have been close friends ever since, and their relationship is important to Maya's growth and change throughout the novel.

Maya also has a passion for playing guitar and song writing. Throughout the story, Maya writes lyrics in response to her emotional struggles or as reactions to instances of difficulty or trial. For example, she writes one for her mother, to commemorate a particularly special summer with Ana, another later in the novel for her friend Benji Ovich.

Much of Maya's storyline is permeated by posttraumatic stress, resulting from her rape by Kevin Erdahl. Maya works to define herself outside Kevin's attack and the town's hostile reactions to...