Contrasting settings emphasize Charlotte's transformation from a dependent orphan to an autonomous citizen who is involved in and valued by her community.

Readers are introduced to Charlotte when she is two years old as her parents' wagon crashes in rural New Hampshire. The area is rugged, with tree-covered hills, rocky ledges, and boulders, symbolizing her toughness. The "bumpy road" foreshadows Charlotte's trials. Charlotte's parents die when their wagon is dashed on rocks after their horses become spooked in a thunderstorm.

Charlotte survives because she falls in a patch of soft grass, which provides her a temporary sanctuary. This setting parallels the glade where she transforms herself into a boy by cutting her hair and changing her clothes. It is also similar to the harsh California environment that challenges her and the peaceful farm she purchases.

Charlotte is taken to an orphanage, where her life is not as sheltering...