father's absence. Though Ellen is self-sufficient, she also recognizes when she needs assistance and is motivated to discover her rightful place in the world. She observes various families—Starletta's family, the "Foster family," and Mavis's family—making mental notes on what she desires and does not desire in a family. Watching Mavis and her family, Ellen expresses, she "would bust open if [she] did not get one of them for [her] own self soon."

Ellen is troubled by her mixed feelings about Starletta. Initially, she considers herself superior to Starletta because she is white and Starletta is black, but she eventually realizes that the ones to be cautious of are "the people you know and trusted they would be like you because you were all made in the same batch." Skin color does not define a person's character. White individuals can be just as low and malicious.

Once Ellen moves into her new mother's home and finally finds her safe haven, she can reflect on her relationship with Starletta in broader terms. Ellen does something extraordinary in her racist Southern town by inviting her black friend to stay over at her new house. As they wait for dinner in Ellen's room, Ellen acknowledges, "I came a long way to get here but when you think about it real hard you will see that old Starletta came even farther.... And all this time I thought I had the hardest row to hoe."

Ellen's mother passes away in the second chapter of the novel, and her death triggers the unraveling of Ellen's world. A gentle woman who married someone considered beneath her by her affluent family, Ellen's mother suffers abuse from her husband. After returning home from heart surgery, she drags herself around the kitchen, enduring his verbal assaults. Unable to bear her life with him any longer, Ellen's mother consumes nearly an entire bottle of her heart medication and dies, lying in bed with Ellen beside her.

Ellen's father is a self-destructive, selfish alcoholic who is abusive to both his wife and daughter. Ellen describes him as "a monster ... a mistake for a person." His harsh treatment of Ellen's mother drives her to suicide. After his wife's death, he neglects Ellen, often leaving her alone for long periods while he is away. When he does come home, he frequently brings friends over to drink, taking over the house and terrifying Ellen, who hides from them. As his behavior escalates to making sexual advances toward Ellen, she decides to run away. Ellen admits in the book's first sentence, "When I was little I would think of ways to kill my daddy," illustrating her deep hatred for the way he treats both her and her mother.

Ellen's mother's family also despises her father, believing their daughter and sister married beneath her station and condemning his cruel behavior. Ellen's maternal grandmother, a wealthy and vengeful woman, is particularly angry about how he treated her daughter and extends her animosity to Ellen. She had disapproved of the marriage from the start, and her daughter's death only fuels her rage.

When Ellen's father begins making sexual advances, she runs away, leading to a court case where a judge decides she should live with her grandmother, believing family should stay together. Ellen thinks, "He had us all mixed up with a different group of folks," yet she goes to live with her grandmother. Her grandmother sends her to work in the cotton fields daily to both rid herself of Ellen and seek revenge on Ellen's father. She accuses Ellen of aiding her father in her mother's death and being "in cahoots" with him. When her grandmother falls seriously ill with the flu, Ellen cares for her and is present when she dies.

Ellen notices a woman in church, who she hopes will become her "new mama." Ellen is drawn to this woman, recognizing her dignity and character, and sees "eyes that would flush all the ugly out of your system." After her mother's death, Ellen frequently thinks about finding a new, better family, and once she notices this woman in church, she is determined to make her part of her life.

The woman eventually welcomes Ellen into her home, which is a foster home for children. She becomes everything Ellen hoped for in a mother: warm, nurturing, and supportive, while also providing structure and discipline. She is "always willing to help if it matters to you." She not only allows Ellen to invite Starletta for sleepovers but also embroiders towels with Starletta's initials at Ellen's request, making her feel especially welcome. In her new family, "the Foster family," Ellen finally feels a sense of belonging.

For a while, Ellen stays with Julia, the art teacher at her school. Julia compassionately invites Ellen to live with her after noticing a bruise on Ellen's arm and learning that Ellen's father has been abusive. Julia is a warm-hearted, free-spirited individual who enjoys gardening and being playful. Ellen describes her as having been "a flower child," but now she maintains a low profile to keep her job. Julia makes Ellen feel special. Her husband, Roy, impresses Ellen with his skills in cooking, washing dishes, and cleaning. He is also an avid organic gardener. Like Julia, Roy shows kindness to Ellen.

Mavis is another supportive female figure in Ellen's life. She is a strong, large African-American woman who assists Ellen with the demanding work in the cotton fields where Ellen's grandmother assigns her. Ellen notices that Mavis's family is joyful, leading her to create "a list of all that a family should have."

There are other characters who become involved in Ellen's circumstances but fail to either understand her situation or offer help. This includes her mother's sisters and the school psychologist she meets with, described by Ellen as "The man [who] comes and asks me questions about the past." She dislikes speaking with him, feeling that he distorts her words for his purposes. Aunt Betsy, one of her mother's sisters, allows Ellen to stay with her for a weekend but ultimately refuses to take responsibility for her. Her other sister, Aunt Nadine, is a self-centered, superficial person who treats Ellen condescendingly. Nadine avoids the truth, refusing to acknowledge that her ten-year-old daughter Dora still has accidents. Dora, a pampered only child, is taught by her mother to look down on Ellen and ignore reality. Nadine takes over at Ellen's mother's funeral, but Ellen is repulsed by her false cheerfulness as she converses with the undertaker. According to Ellen, when Aunt Nadine isn't redecorating or shopping with Dora, she demonstrates food slicers in people's homes.

After Ellen's grandmother passes away, she moves in with Dora and Aunt Nadine. However, Ellen quickly realizes she is not wanted there and decides to remain as isolated as possible. During Christmas, Ellen gifts Nadine and Dora a painting she put great effort into creating, only to find out they mock it behind her back. In return, they give her a pack of white art paper, a stark contrast to the pile of toys and clothes Dora receives. Feeling heartbroken and furious at their selfishness, Ellen confronts Nadine, calling her crazy and comparing her and Dora to "the same as the people who would not believe the world was round." In response, Aunt Nadine tells Ellen to leave, admitting she never wanted Ellen to stay and that she and Dora prefer living alone. This pushes Ellen to seek a new family for herself.

Among the novel's most compassionate characters are Starletta and her family. Starletta is Ellen's sole friend. Though she is younger than Ellen, Starletta, an African-American girl, belongs to a joyful and intact family that offers Ellen a safe haven when her life with her father becomes intolerable. Starletta "hates to talk," according to Ellen, and she remains silent throughout the novel. Instead, Ellen channels her own emotions and desire for security through her quiet friend. Ellen cherishes Starletta, noting, "She is not as smart as I am but she is more fun." However, Ellen is conflicted about her feelings for Starletta because of her racial background, having been raised in a white Southern environment that instills a sense of superiority. Recognizing Ellen's struggles with her father, Starletta's mother is compassionate and welcomes Ellen into their home. Starletta's parents create a nurturing and loving environment, a detail Ellen doesn't overlook. Like his wife, Starletta's father is also kind and welcoming to Ellen. He is a dedicated family man, and Ellen observes that "he is the only colored man that does not buy liquor from my daddy."