Character Clues

Character Analysis

Miss Sadie doesn't pull any punches when it comes to telling it like it is. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that she uses lots of direct characterization in her story. Take a look at how she describes Jinx: "Jinx is cocky and streetwise. He knows a con for every day of the week. But he knows little of friendship and home" (12.22). She definitely wants to make things clear for Abilene. Even Abilene uses direct characterization. When she lets us know that "those girls were real friendly," (6.52) we learn something about them—and something about her, too.

Speech and Dialogue

Dude, like, the way a character talks, like, totally has a lot to do with who they really are, you know? Abilene knows that, y'all—and heck, she also knows that it's durn easier to fit in somewhere if'n you talk like everyone else in a place:

Mind you, I don't really say y'all, but it's usually best to try to sound a bit like the folks whose town you're moving into. (3.15)

Abilene doesn't want us to judge her for talking that way because it would give us the wrong impression of who she really is. Yep, a person's speech really opens up a window into their personality in this book.