Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses bullying. In addition, the source text includes instances of name-calling, including derogatory language about mental health conditions, which are reproduced in this section only in direct quotes of the source material.

In a hospital waiting room in Pennsylvania, Charlotte Lockard, who is 12, holds a can of soda and thinks about how it weighs approximately the same as her dad’s heart. A couple of hours ago, Charlotte’s dad had a heart attack while driving and crashed into a store; now, he’s having surgery. Charlotte drinks the soda, even though she’s usually not allowed to.

Charlotte’s parents are in their fifties, and her dad retired from his job as an art history professor the previous year. He also loves birdwatching and plants. Unlike her dad, Charlotte doesn’t really understand art and doesn’t think leaves or birds are especially impressive. Her mother is a statistician. Charlotte loves word scrambles and knows a lot about various topics, especially scientific ones, thanks to her habit of going down “rabbit holes” (researching questions online). Charlotte and her mother will be able to visit her dad once he’s done with surgery. To distract herself, Charlotte thinks about her science class, where she’ll get to dissect a starfish soon.