Pew

Pew serves as the narrator for the novel. Pew is a catalyst for the action even though he does not participate in what happens. He is acted upon by those trying to help him. While Pew is in this small Southern town, several people confess their crimes to him as they talk to him about their lives. It appears at the end of the novel that Pew is killed as a scapegoat at the end of the Forgiveness Festival.

Pew has no memory of who he is or from where he came. Some people see Pew as a girl; some see him as a boy. Pew gives no hints toward his gender. In the same way, some people believe that Pew is Black, others believe he is White. Nelson notes at one point that Pew does not appear as Black during their second meeting as he did during...