Coming of Age

Jean ages physically, mentally and emotionally during the course of the novel. She's only seven at the beginning and is a young woman who has completed school as the story comes to an end. She has also taken a long look at herself and made some decisions about her life during that time. One of the biggest decisions is that she refuses to renounce her lifestyle and submit to an exorcism, accepting her mother's decree that she must move out if she doesn't submit.

Jean matures with regard to her relationship as well. When she and her first lover are discovered and confronted, they stand together in front of the church. Jean's lover, Melanie, accepts the church's demands that she repent. When Jean is discovered to be involved in a second relationship, she separates herself from her lover, Katy. She does this in order to protect...