Meet the Cast
Abyssinia Jackson
Just a Small Town Girl…Born as the Civil Rights Movement is just picking up steam, and as the world beyond Ponca City prepares to protest, Abyssinia enters into a pretty ordinary childhood. She h...
Mother Barker
Some people get stuck with one terrible mother, while others, like Abyssinia, basically get two totally awesome moms. Sure, Patience is Abby's biological mother, but Mother Barker is there from day...
Trembling Sally
I Once Was Lost…We're just going along, reading Marked by Fire, when all of a sudden there's a tornado that rudely interrupts Abby's Library Award ceremony. When the students and teachers emerge...
Patience Jackson
Patience by Any Other Name…Patience is the star of the show in the first two chapters of the book, first narrowly surviving a tornado and then giving birth next to a fire in the middle of her wor...
Strong Jackson
Strong is Abyssinia's dad and Patience's husband, and for a while, he's a key part of Abby's happy childhood. The owner of the Better Way Barbershop in town, Strong is a welcome presence in both hi...
Brother Jacobs
Brother Jacobs doesn't show up in the book too much, but unfortunately when he does, he makes a lasting impact. This is the deacon from Abby's church who rapes her when she's only ten years old, se...
Lily Norene
Have you read up on Abyssinia as a character yet? You totally should before we dive into Lily Norene. Don't worry; we'll wait.Okay, you back? Let's do this thing.Poor Lily Norene has the dubious ho...
Minor Characters
Serena and SadoniaThese are Patience's sisters who take Abyssinia one afternoon without permission and refuse to give her back until Patience tricks them into doing so. Siblings, right?Mr. MoselyTh...