As the protagonist of the story, Sadie represents both the vulnerability of women in society, as well as their potential for incredible strength. Sadie is young, poor, undereducated, and ignorant of the world outside her rural town. She was sexually abused as a child and grew up bullied and friendless. Yet despite her extremely vulnerable position in life, Sadie accomplishes a great deal, as she taps into her inner strength. Sadie raised her younger sister when her mother lacked the capability to do so. Though she has nothing to go on but a distant memory of the name of a diner, Sadie embarks on a journey to track down her sister’s killer, who is also the man who molested her as a child and exploited her vulnerability. Sadie faces danger, uncertainty, physical pain, and the emergence of horrible memories, but she continues moving forward. She is threatened by Caddy, who attempts to prey upon her perceived vulnerability, and she turns the tables on him. Silas attempts to overpower Sadie physically and mentally, but she fights back. Sadie’s strength and protection extends to the children that Silas sexually abused, as she enlists Javi into bringing Silas to justice.