Ophie's Ghosts

Ophie is the main character of the novel. In the untitled, numbered chapters, the third-person narrator inhabits Ophie’s consciousness and depicts the narrative world according to her perspective. These portions of the novel provide insight into Ophie’s psychological landscape and convey her distinct way of interacting with and making sense of the world around her.

Ophie is 12 years old, and her parents are Etta “Mama” Harrison and Robert “Daddy” Harrison. She was born in Darling, Georgia, where she lives until the time of her father’s murder (as depicted in the Prologue). After this tragedy, Ophie is forced over the threshold between childhood and adulthood. She experiences great loss when she is just a little girl, and this early experience compels her to learn to process complex emotions, remain strong, and take risks.

Ophie is a strong and determined person who also shows kindness and sensitivity. When her father dies, Ophie is eager to process her grief—and her mysterious encounter with Daddy’s ghost—by speaking of the encounter to her mother, but Mama has no interest in discussing the tragedy. As a result, Ophie buries her sorrow instead of addressing it.