Linda Furston

Linda is the narrator of the novel, whose real name is Madeline. For the sake of clarity in this guide, she is referred to as Linda throughout, except in direct quotes. Linda is a 37-year-old woman as she is writing the novel.

Linda's parents were the only two who remained when their commune disbanded. Her early childhood was filled with people, including a girl named Tameka, as the adults worked on their dreams of a peace-filled society. Linda's mother worried in in later years that the nontraditional upbringing had damaged Linda, and she constantly sought assurance that Linda was alright. That made a complicated relationship between Linda and her mother, and Linda sometimes went out of her way to keep from handing out the assurances her mother sought. By the same token, Linda did not seem to be angry or upset when her mother berated or made...