Lives of Girls and Women

Content Warning: The source text contains references to murder, death by suicide and suicidal ideation, and sexual abuse, including sexual interactions between an adult and a young teenager. The source text also includes outdated and offensive language surrounding race and mental health conditions that are reproduced only via quotations.

Del Jordan, a young girl entering the fourth grade, spends her time with her brother, Owen, at the home of their neighbor, Uncle Benny, who Del quickly points out “was not [their] uncle, or anybody’s” (3). He works for their father and has become a family friend. Growing up in the small town of Jubilee along the Wawanash River, Del’s family lives on a silver fox farm, where her father breeds foxes for their fur. They live at the end of the Flats Road along with other working-class families. During summer break, Del and Owen spend their time exploring the nearby river, catching frogs and other animals. She also reads Uncle Benny’s obscure newspaper, which has headlines such as “FATHER FEEDS TWIN DAUGHTERS TO HOGS” and “WOMAN GIVES BIRTH TO HUMAN MONKEY” (7). Owen and Del spend much time of their summer at Uncle Benny’s house, which houses clutter and junk Benny finds.