One Came Home

Georgie (short for Georgina) is the 13-year-old protagonist and point-of-view character of One Came Home. At the beginning of the novel, she relies on others to define who she is and decide what makes her worthwhile. Her grandfather praises her for her sharp business skills and for her accuracy at shooting a rifle. As a result of these external validations, Georgie decides her future lies in inheriting and running the family store, and she takes pride in her talent as a sharpshooter. For instance, in Chapter 3, as she practices shooting at bottles, she brags: “I did not miss one bottle. I never do” (16). Thus, Georgie initially bases her self-worth on productivity and loyalty to family expectations.

However, her decision to leave Placid in search of the truth about what happened to Agatha takes her out of her comfort zone and challenges her self-perception, highlighting the theme of The Inevitability of Change. Away from home, Georgie starts to realize that she has no control over events, which do not always conform to her expectations. She is forced to confront the limitations of her worldview and her inexperience. For example, when she encounters the cougar, she realizes that she cannot rely on her skill with a rifle in the face of overwhelming danger and fear.