Stella

Cloe is Esperanza’s daughter, and she is the deuteragonist in the novel. Her main role in the novel is to help Stella learn to trust herself again. She does so by encouraging Stella to take risks while also being a safety net for her when she gets scared. An example of this is when Cloe encourages Stella over multiple days to get farther on to the teeter-totter. She does not want Stella to stay stuck, so she keeps prodding her to face her fears, but she removes Stella from the scary situation and comforts her when Stella gets too overwhelmed. Cloe knows how to find the right balance between prodding and comforting Stella, demonstrating that she understands Stella and her needs.

Cloe is more nurturing to Stella than Esperanza is. This is largely because Cloe has more faith that they will be able to rehabilitate Stella. Her cuddles and affection help them bond, which in turn helps Stella find the courage to face her fears and save Cloe. Cloe’s nurturing nature is central to Stella’s healing, and they become very close over the course of the novel.

Cloe has epilepsy, a medical condition characterized by seizures or uncontrollable shaking. Because of this, Esperanza watches Cloe closely, but Cloe wants to have some independence as well. She listens to and obeys her mother, but, just like she pushes Stella to take risks, she pushes her mother to give her more freedom. In this way, Cloe helps both of them grow.

Esperanza is Cloe’s mother. She trains dogs and takes care of sheep for a living. She exhibits a unique understanding of animals and a desire to help them, attempting to rehabilitate Stella after everyone else has given up hope. Because she understands dogs, she is the first person to take Stella to Connie’s grave, which allows Stella to finally understand that Connie is dead. She also keeps Stella in the feed room because she knows Stella will do well with other animals near her. Esperanza shows herself to be quite knowledgeable about dogs, but her knowledge ironically prevents her from recognizing Stella’s unique needs because she sees all dogs as the same. She has to learn to understand Stella as an individual rather than just as a member of the canine family. Ultimately, she is able to do this with the help of a police officer, who explains what Stella has been trying to tell Esperanza all along.

Esperanza is a secondary character, so she doesn’t undergo as much growth as Stella. For example, she remains extremely cautious with Cloe, her daughter, throughout the novel. First, she tries—unsuccessfully—to tame Cloe’s love for Stella so that the girl will not get hurt if they cannot rehabilitate Stella. The other way she demonstrates her caution is through her care for Cloe’s medical condition. She frequently asks Cloe if she took her medication, and she is hesitant to let Cloe go to the stream with Stella because she wants Cloe nearby at all times. However, as Cloe pushes for more freedom, Esperanza grants it to her, demonstrating that she is willing to change. She cares deeply for Cloe, and so even though it is difficult for her to hold back her caution, she does so when she thinks it is in her daughter’s best interest.

Vern is one of the main antagonists in the novel. He is a flat character who serves primarily to cause trouble for Esperanza, Cloe, and Stella. His defining characteristic is that he holds very little respect for animals. He first demonstrates this characteristic in the hardware store when he says that his nephews are going squirrel hunting and might shoot Esperanza’s dogs if she isn’t careful. He further shows his lack of respect for animals when he ties his own dog up outside. Stella is sometimes kept in a crate for her own well-being, but no reason is given for Vern’s dog’s confinement, suggesting that Vern just doesn’t care about the dog.

Vern’s nephews, the novel’s other antagonists, are similarly one-dimensional. First they antagonize Stella and Cloe by threatening to shoot them, then they throw firecrackers directly at them. When a police officer catches the boys throwing firecrackers at a mailbox—a federal offense—Vern assures him he will punish the boys, but it is unlikely he cares about the damage they caused. He just does not want to face legal repercussions. Vern and his nephews demonstrate no redeeming qualities and no growth.