Isabel Gardener

Isabel Gardener is one of the main characters and the narrator of the novel. She is the sister of Ruth from whom she was separated five years before the beginning of the book. Isabel longs for a life free of war.

One stumbling block to Isabel’s freedom is the brand on her cheek. It is a sign that she is a slave and is the property of a master. Isabel got the brand as a punishment because she lashed out against her mistress when that woman separated Isabel and Ruth. Because of the brand, Mister Hallahan recognizes that Isabel is not a free black, like she claims to be, but is instead a slave for whom he can claim a reward, or make money by selling her back into slavery.

Isabel is faced by the challenges of first understanding why her sister has decided they are...