Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses racism and racist violence, hate crimes, and the legacy of colonialism.

Victoria, or “Torie” as she is called in her youth, is the protagonist and narrator of the novel, which follows her life during the 1950s-70s construction of the Blue Mesa Reservoir. Victoria begins as a quiet and obedient girl living on a decaying farm with three male family members following a tragic accident that killed her mother, aunt, and cousin. This tragedy of her youth sparks her determination to survive despite the odds, which she does by fulfilling her mother’s role as the domestic worker on the farm. But when she meets Wil, his love changes her profoundly, causing her to grow into a more mature female identity. She later reflects on the revelation of their meeting, saying, “How does one live for seventeen years without ever considering whether she is known? […] I stood on the […] steps feeling transparent, held up to the light in a way I never imagined before meeting Wilson Moon” (15). With this statement, it is immediately clear that Victoria grows from childhood to womanhood through her relationship with Wilson Moon.