Dawn is a 15-year-old girl living in Kentucky. She likes punk rock music and drawing. She is highly imaginative, often retreating into vivid daydreams when she sees something that inspires her. She deeply admires her grandmother, but she has a strained relationship with her alcoholic mother. She is headstrong, angry, and bitter due to traumatic events in her past and present. She lost her father at a young age, and her life changed dramatically in the wake of his death. Before he died, Dawn recalls a stable, idyllic home life. Her parents loved each other, and her mom was stable and even owned her own business baking pies and cakes. When Dad died, her mom started drinking and sought comfort in a relationship with Uncle Hubert, an abusive man Dawn dislikes.

Dawn hides behind her anger to protect herself, as she feels that no one else can save her. Not even those closest to her, like Mamaw, Evie, or Aunt June, are allowed to see the depths of her pain. She is sensitive, and only wants someone to love her and to live in peace, but feels she isn’t worthy of anyone’s affection. She is angry that others look down on her for coming from a poor family and is tired of being seen as wasted potential.