Patricia (Rabbit)

Patricia, known as Rabbit, is the main character and narrator of this book. Born into extreme poverty, Patricia grew up in Atlanta, in what she describes as "the hood" or "the ghetto." As a child, Patricia suffered physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and had no model for healthy and happy relationships. This made her particularly vulnerable when she met Derrick, the boyfriend she began seeing when she was twelve and he was twenty. Patricia never had any real friends, having been bullied at school, and Derrick was the only person who listened to her and made her feel good about herself. He was also the first person to tell her that they love her.

These childhood experiences likely negatively impacted Patricia's sense of self and self-esteem, making her vulnerable to a sexual predator like Derrick. For the next seven years, Derrick would wield significant emotional and...