Tyler
A young Australian girl in Grade 6, Tyler is the protagonist and narrator of the story, which is framed as a series of entries in her journal. She has a conflicted relationship with her mother…
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Ellie
Ellie is Tyler’s older sister, and one of the few sources of security and stability in her life. She is several years older than Tyler, and works part-time at Subway after school in order…
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Tyler and Ellie’s Mother
An ambiguous and complicated figure, Tyler and Ellie’s mother dominates a great deal of her daughters’ lives. Ellie and Tyler are the youngest of her five children; earlier, she had two boys, Zac and…
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Shane
The antagonist of the story and Tyler’s mother’s boyfriend. He has a criminal record, which Tyler’s mother does not explain, and is currently on parole. He begins exhibiting predatory behavior towards Tyler immediately after…
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Mrs Carlyle
Tyler’s Grade 6 school teacher, who is gentle and kind. Tyler feels particularly close to her, treating her as both a source of stable authority and a role model. She gives Tyler the journal…
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Zac
Tyler and Ellie’s older brother. Ellie tells Tyler that he ran away from their mother with his brother Dylan after both had accumulated a criminal record. They then attempted to find their father, who…
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Aunty Jacinta
Jacinta is Tyler’s aunt on her mother’s side. She appears only briefly in the story, and Tyler does not have much contact with her outside of the holidays; however, Tyler seems to imagine…
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Tyler’s Grandmother
Tyler’s grandmother on her mother’s side. Tyler’s mother resents her for favoring Jacinta throughout their childhood, and suspects her or Jacinta of having reported her to Child Services. Tyler’s grandmother takes Tyler shopping…
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Minor Characters
Georgia
Tyler’s closest friend in her class. She never appears in person in the story, but Tyler wishes she could have her over to her house. She owns a set of the Derwent pencils which Tyler wants so badly.