Mary Adare survives a particularly traumatic childhood: Her father dies, and her mother, Adelaide, abandons her and her two brothers during the Great Depression. Even before she abandons her children, Adelaide is a self-centered and tempestuous woman, and she and Mary do not get along. In contrast, Mary herself is immensely practical and resourceful, even cunning, especially as an 11-year-old at the beginning of the book. She believes she is at her best when she functions as a protector. Looking back to her childhood, she admits, “It was not that with Karl gone I had no one to protect me, but just the opposite. With no one to protect and look out for, I was weak” (5). This observation reverberates through the years, particularly in her relationship with her niece, Dot. Mary leaps to Dot’s aide any time she believes Dot needs protection, as in the regrettable incident with Dot’s teacher and the “naughty box.”

Mary’s world is upended when she accidentally creates the “miracle” at her Catholic school. Sliding down the railing and smashing her face into the ice at the bottom, Mary leaves an imprint that, to the nuns, resembles the face of Christ, though Mary instead sees Karl’s face.