Libertie Sampson

Libertie Sampson is the main character and first person narrator of the novel. At the start of the novel, she is 11 years old and living in Kings County, New York with her mother Cathy. When her mother was pregnant with her, Libertie's father died. Because her mother rarely speaks about her late father, Libertie relies on Cathy's nurse Lenore's stories about him.

Libertie is deeply attached to her mother. Because her mother is a doctor, Libertie believes that she is a miracle worker. She admires everything she does and is desperate for her mother's approval. Whenever Cathy becomes lost in her work, Libertie feels sad and lonely. She sometimes takes extreme measures to win back Cathy's attention.

When Mr. Ben arrives in a coffin, Libertie is shocked and delighted when her mother raises him from the dead. However, Mr. Ben's presence in town soon alters the way...