Is Sierra an outcast or outsider?

I think that Sierra is more of an outsider than anoutcast: she just needs to find herself. By the time the narrative ends, Sierra is no longer the girl that she was in the beginning of the narrative who is struggling to find her identity. That part of her dies and she becomes Lucera who represents strength, confidence, and the ability to connect the past to the present. The author uses her character to show that everyone has the power to shape their own future, the importance of knowing and accepting one’s heritage, and the importance of accepting yourself. Sierra’s character also illustrates that one does not have to choose between their heritage and the present. They can have both and move forward on their own terms.