Sylvia

Sylvia Ross is the black mother of Ava, the sister of Lana, and the wife of Don. As the book’s lone moral compass, Sylvia struggles with her daughter’s poor life choices and with her own inability to protecther son, Devon, from being killed many years ago. Sylvia attempts to guide Marcus in prison while also contending with her husband’s infidelity and JJ’s advances on Ava.

JJ

JJ “Jay” Ferguson is a self-made American black man, who mirrors Jay Gatsby (he even takes to calling himself “Jay”). Having grown up in Pinewood following the death of his mother, JJ has a relationship with Ava before leaving to find himself and make his fortune. With his fortune in tow, he returns to Pinewood to build a mansion and to attempt to win back Ava. JJ fails; he leaves town again. He does come back to visit...