Marly is the 10-year-old protagonist of the novel, and the narrative features her perspective on her family’s decision to leave the city and move to the country to help her father heal from his emotional trauma. Though she has never seen Maple Hill, Marly already loves the idyllic country home, for she has grown up hearing her mother tell stories of spending her summers there with Grandma. Despite facing the challenge of uprooting her life to move to a new environment, Marly exhibits strength by adjusting to life in a rural setting. Marly is hopeful and optimistic, and she never loses faith in the possibility of healing and happiness. Marly finds joy in the simple things in life, especially nature, and she demonstrates deep compassion for all animals. Her connection to nature plays a pivotal role in her emotional healing as living at Maple Hill brings her closer to the natural world and teaches her about the symbolism of seasonal rhythms. The transformation from winter to spring at Maple Hill becomes a