Pennington

Pennington is the exclusive college that Liz wishes to attend for their music program. Her mother was an alumna of the school and so Liz has always wanted to honor her memory by studying there. Pennington’s scholarship rejection is the catalyst for the novel that inspires Liz to run for prom queen. Pennington becomes almost like a character within the novel because Liz strives for her entire high school experience to be accepted.

The hospital

The hospital is a recurring setting in the novel where Liz must go to support Robbie through his sickle-cell flareups. She worries constantly for her younger brother’s health, made worse by his inconsistency in taking his medication. The hospital is a setting that induces stress and anxiety in all of the characters and Liz falls more into a caretaker role when she enters this setting.

Campbell High

Campbell High School is...