Sallie is the protagonist and narrator of Hang the Moon. The novel spans 12 years of Sallie’s life. She is eight during the prologue, 17 when the main narrative begins, and 20 at the novel’s end. In this way, the novel is Sallie’s coming-of-age story.

The Duke’s second daughter, Sallie is “a forceful and even fiery young redhead” (241) who encounters a series of trials throughout her journey, including the untimely deaths of her mother, Annie, and her half-brother, Eddie. Sallie’s odyssey is marked by self-exploration and resilience, as she grapples with gender bias within her family, confronts her own past, and endeavors to establish her position in the hierarchy of the Kincaid family.

Sallie consistently demonstrates her readiness to confront challenges, as exemplified by her mindset of being prepared for the possibility that her new stepmother, Kat, might “want to get rid of both [her] and Eddie, so [she has] to be prepared” (51). Her affinity for challenges becomes evident when she willingly takes on the demanding task of collecting rent and debts. This helps her grow as an individual and shows her the reality of her neighbors’ lives during the Prohibition era.