Unspeakable Things

Content Warning: This novel refers to emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, as well as child neglect, murder, violence, racism, and anti-gay bias.

Cass is the protagonist of the text. Based on the author’s background and professed fictionalization of her own childhood, we may infer that they have some similarities, or at least enough points of identification that Lourey found Cass to be a suitable stand-in for her childhood self. Like many heroines of young adult detective fiction, Cass is quirky and clever, and demonstrates admirable determination. She struggles with the fact that her sister is becoming more of a teenager and less of a child; Cass misses her playmate but is often embarrassed to admit that she mourns this aspect of their relationship. She publicly denounces demonstrations of youthful behavior but is pleased to play with dolls when given the chance. She is a character caught in the crossfire of her own transformation as a child on the cusp of young adulthood and as a girl amid abuse, assault, and finally murder.

Cass develops crushes quickly and allows her imagination to spiral out of control after ascribing too much value to a boy’s simple act of kindness.