Fayetteville, Arkansas

Fayetteville, Arkansas is the primary setting of the novel. This is the town where the University of Arkansas is located. Therefore, when Agatha Paul, Millie Cousins, and Kennedy Washburn report to UA for the start of the fall semester, they all move to Fayetteville.

The setting means different things to each of the main characters. For Agatha, Fayetteville is a retreat from her former reality in Chicago, Illinois. Therefore, the Arkansas town offers her the chance to start over. She sees Fayetteville as an escape, and therefore a place to do the things she would not normally do. For Millie, Fayetteville is a place to build her future. This is why she devotes herself to her RA job and to caring for the yellow house. She sees herself living here in the years to come. Fayetteville also offers Kennedy the chance to start over, particularly in light...