Mate

Serena’s attempts to orient to her new identity and reality convey Mate’s message about how important acceptance and belonging are to forming a holistic sense of self. At the novel’s start, Serena has just discovered that she is a hybrid, or half-Human and half-Were individual. This information alters her understanding of who she is and where she comes from. Because there is only one other known individual of her kind, Serena is alienated from her society, which treats her like a pariah and a pawn. The Humans, Weres, and Vampyres battle to either destroy, use, hide, or manipulate her. Because Serena’s body is politicized, she struggles to make sense of who she is, where she belongs, and what she wants on her own terms; in the end, however, she realizes that embracing her authentic self involves connecting with others.

Serena’s story traces her work to take pride in herself, form connections with others, and foster a home and community. Serena admits, “[I have] lived my entire life not knowing who my parents were,” but she has “never allowed my origins to define me, because if I had, I would have been destined to remain undefined. I may be Serena Nobody, but I’m still Serena” (201).