Benny Hogan

When Benny Hogan is introduced, she is a 10-year-old girl who feels clumsy and different because of her larger than average size, something that is often pointed out to her by others, including her parents. Her attitude toward herself has not changed when we meet her again as she is preparing to enter college. Although the author does not portray her as morbidly obese, her size causes her to be self-conscious. So, she finds it impossible to believe that the handsome, charming Jack Foley could possibly be attracted to her when there are so many prettier, smaller girls he could choose. Benny's parents dote on her, sometimes to her dismay as she feels stifled by their insistence that she return home to their small village each night rather than enjoy the full range of university life, although she appreciates their unconditional love and feels guilty for chafing...