Surviving Savannah consistently evokes fate. It is central to the plot and character arcs of many of the lead and supporting characters. They bring their perspectives, which are often challenged by the circumstances in which they find themselves. Much of the novel focuses on how much agency someone has. Surviving Savannah poses the question: Is fate immutable, or can the actions of individuals affect it? All three protagonists, Everly, Augusta, and Lilly, find themselves in positions to answer the question in their own ways.

Everly comes to realize that the future can be changed but the past cannot. At the beginning of the book, it seems like life has become uncontrollable and she just has to survive it. Instead of being an active participant in her own life, she sidelines herself, believing that whatever fate or life has in store for her is going to be awful. Everly’s catchphrase used to be “I wonder what happens next” (360), but she stopped saying it after Mora died. Everly’s perspective on fate begins to shift when she sees that she can have an impact on the world around her and can make choices about how to live. The

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