Bess

Bess is the protagonist of the novel. She is a dynamic character who changes both from her teen years through her adult years as well as through the short time period detailed in the present tense. She becomes a recluse of sorts after her friend dies and she is briefly imprisoned for her death, but by the end of the novel, she has learned that she must venture out into the world more frequently and more meaningfully despite her fear and the risks involved. The lessons she learns about friendship advance many of the novel’s main themes.

Bess and her family move to Calabasas, CA from England so that her mother can take a professorship. Bess and her brother are so afraid of not fitting in that they memorize lyrics to a popular song, so they will know what their classmates are talking about. She befriends Joni...