Maggie Stephens

Maggie is a young girl who stutters. She sometimes stutters so much that she completely freezes. This stutter is such a detriment that she struggles with even basic communication. Maggie is so desperate to avoid reading in class that she stabs herself with a pencil in order to go to the nurse instead. Maggie loves animals and nature. At her home, she has an array of “pets,” including roly-polies, an injured dove, and a mouse. An important part of her nature is that she does not stutter at all when talking to the animals.

Maggie is the daughter of Vincent and Evelyn Stephens. When Vincent feels there are no options remaining, he wants to send her to an institution that has a reputation for solving issues for children. Maggie is afraid of the place because of stories of abuse and neglect. Vincent agrees to let Maggie spend...