Salamanca Tree Hiddle

She is usually known as “Sal.” This thirteen-year-old girl lives in Kentucky with her parents until her mother’s death. Sal is a very thoughtful girl who spends a great deal of time reasoning and observing. Sal is an only child who is somewhat jealous of the fact that her parents want another child. She seems to feel some guilt because she fears her stillborn sister is her fault. She also fears that her mother’s decision to leave Kentucky was her fault. It’s not until much later that she comes to term with both things and her role in life. Sal is unusual in some ways. She sees things more clearly than most young people would and it’s probably because of her mother’s influence in her life. When Phoebe’s mother leaves home, Phoebe acts out rudely and Sal realizes it’s...