Who is the main character in A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck?

Grandma Dowdel is Mary Alice's elderly grandmother, and she serves as the heart of the novel. She is a larger-than-life presence, and not only because of her large frame. She has a wild history with the town, including her reputation as a crack shot and her willingness to use her firearms. Her husband, Grandpa Dowdel, died many years ago, and she has carried on as a single widow. She has very little formal schooling. She is extremely self-sufficient and has a tireless work ethic, and while she lives simply, she is never in need of basic necessities.