Regina Marie Calcaterra

Regina is the narrator of the story. She is sometimes called Gi by her siblings, but she is referred to as Regina throughout this guide. Regina was the middle child of five. Her mother hated and abused her more than the others. As an adult, Regina learns that this is because Cookie was in love with Paul, Regina's father. Paul, however, married someone else about the same time Regina was born, making it clear he did not care about Cookie. Regina struggled with many things in her life, but the identity of her father ranks high on that list. She did not understand why her mother often singled her out until she learned the details about Cookie's relationship with Paul.

Regina helped her older sisters as they struggled to take care of each other and to avoid their mother's violent rampages. When Cherie moved out...