Deza (DEZ-uh, not Dee-za) Malone is a 12-year-old Black American girl who radiates intelligence, perseverance, and kindness—qualities honed throughout the novel. When the story opens in May of 1936, Deza lives with her parents and older brother, Jimmie, in a small, rented house in Gary, Indiana. Deza’s kindness and intellectual temperament are established from the outset, as the reader immediately sees she loves reading, school, and her best friend Clarice Anne Johnson. Physically, Deza is a little taller than her older brother because Jimmie is quite undersized for his age. Deza’s cavities, especially in her back teeth, cause her a lot of pain. She often keeps a piece of cotton soaked in camphor oil in her mouth up against her back teeth to numb them. Deza is at the top of her class and has a confident personality. She is strong in all subjects but has special interest in literature and writing. She is eager to pursue personal tutoring as an added challenge with retired teacher Mrs. Needham. Deza is caring and respectful toward each family member.

Deza’s character arc is defined by her maturation, based largely in her endurance of suffering. By the time Deza turns 13 in February of 1937, a number of significant changes in her life take place.