Summer Sisters

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussions of child abuse, sexual abuse, grooming, and suicidal ideation.

Vix is the main character and the protagonist. The story centers on her, and the omniscient third-person narrator mostly focuses on her interiority––though the narrator regularly cuts to other characters’ perspectives. Vix is dynamic and changes throughout the narrative. She starts the story as a 12-year-old girl “wearing worn bell bottoms and a juice-stained purple T-shirt” (8). The outfit reflects her family’s lower socioeconomic status: Her mom worries about the bills, and her dad works two jobs. Her friendship with Caitlin exposes her to wealth and changes her life. Vix wonders, “What if Caitlin hadn’t chosen her for her summer sister? What if Abby and Lamb hadn’t taken a personal interest?” (312).

The reliance on Caitlin and her family can make Vix seem passive. Vix’s dialogue with Caitlin is often one-sided, with Caitlin doing most of the talking. Caitlin appears as the primary instigator, choosing which “games” to play and what to do. Still, Vix can assert herself when she wants. She insists they get jobs, and she refuses to travel around Europe with Caitlin.