Bea

Bea is the story’s first and far-from-perfect protagonist. Plagued by her parenting insecurities, Bea is an unreliable heroine, as she is full of contradictions. Although she is intensely committed to following the rules of the Manual, her commitment to her family is less resolute. Her romantic loyalties sway from her steadfast and sensible boyfriend Glen to the hot-headed, virile Carl. Even her bond with her daughter, who she loves fiercely, is shaky due to her strong sense of self-sufficiency and free spirit, which lead her to spontaneously escape to the City.

Though she shows emotional unpredictability, she is a confident and consistent leader of the Community, capable of navigating them through the harsh Wilderness. Ultimately, her deep love for her daughter trumps everything else, including her tendency toward selfishness, and she returns to the Wilderness to be with her.

Agnes

Behind the environmental dystopia that drives the...