Addie Severson

Addie Severson is the protagonist of the novel. She starts out the novel as a social outcast. This is because her math teacher the previous year, Mr. Tuttle, had to leave his job because there were insinuations that Addie had a sexual relationship with him. Addie’s relationship with Mr. Tuttle illustrates two key aspects of her character. First, it shows how vulnerable she is to kind men. Her father was an alcoholic and was, as such, not a strong role model in her life. After her father’s death, her mother withdrew, leaving her even more alone. Therefore, when someone is kind to her, she develops a close bond with them. She still has this vulnerability as this novel opens, but it is even more enhanced because she has lost her best friend. Secondly, this relationship demonstrates how she has a difficult time explaining the truth...