Hannah Bauer

Hannah Bauer is Janie’s adoptive mother and Christopher’s wife. She is one of the three first-person narrators in the novel. Hannah is hesitant about taking in Janie from the beginning because Janie does not bond with her immediately as Janie does with Christopher. Hannah sees more clearly than Christopher how difficult it will be to raise Janie. She also worries about the impact that Janie might have on another child if they were to get pregnant or adopt a baby.

Hannah understands right away that Janie acts the way she does for reasons other than Janie's abuse. Hannah knows this because the child tries to manipulate. Christopher, who is blindly in love with Janie, does not understand Hannah’s viewpoint and believes that his wife is just jealous. Hannah suffers through weeks of Janie not speaking to her or even acknowledging her presence. Janie intentionally...