Willa Jo

Willa Jo is the thirteen-year-old protagonist of Getting Near to Baby. Willa Jo and Jo Ann, her seven-year-old sister who the family calls Little Sister, are staying with Aunt Patty while her mother is healing from the loss of her two-year-old who the family called Baby. Willa Jo is forced to be all things to all people. She has to be strong and brave for her fragile and grieving mother who is obsessed with painting pictures of her lost Baby. Willa Jo becomes Little Sister's "mother." Her number one priority is to shield Little Sister from any further hurt. She interprets for her sister who has been unable to speak since the passing of Baby. Willa Jo does not want to lose another little sister in any sense of the word.

Willa Jo and Little Sister are taken to their Aunt Patty's for an extended visit in...