Personally, I would give Ree advice right before she sets out to find her father, probably on the same day that the deputy from the sheriff’s office comes to her house. Ree is a strong and smart young girl, but she does not understand what she is getting herself into.

The point I would stress most to Ree is to constantly be on her guard. I would tell her that she should be ready to protect herself at any moment. She naively sets out searching for trustworthy, transparent information and does not realize the intensity of groups like Thump Milton’s clan. I would also tell her to try to restrain her emotions when dealing with the people she meets. Consider how she yells at Thump Milton after she is not allowed to see him. This kind of impassioned display of anger can get her on the bad side of some dangerous people.

I would also tell Ree to trust her friends. For example, consider how Gail tells Ree not to return to Thump Milton after that first visit. Ree does not take Gail’s advice because she is desperate for answers. What she does instead gets her hurt and puts her life, and ultimately Teardrop’s life, at risk.