Raymie Nightingale

“The more I think about it, the more terrified I am. I am too terrified to go on!”

These are the first words spoken in the book, immediately setting the tone of fear and trepidation felt throughout the first two-thirds of the book. They are said by a sobbing Louisiana as the girls wait for their first baton-twirling lesson to begin.

“Maybe it was a fairy tale that hadn’t been told yet.”

Raymie is referring to Mrs. Sylvester, who looks like a fairy tale character standing by Swip Pond feeding the swans. This is a prophetic thought since this book progresses like a fairy tale, filled with trials, horrors, missions, and an uplifting ending that happens at Swip Pond.

“Have you ever in your life come to realize that everything, absolutely everything, depends on you?”

Louisiana asks Raymie this question soon after they meet, echoing exactly how Raymie feels about getting her father back. Raymie’s soul is mentioned for the first time after she hears Louisiana ask this in response to meeting a like-minded person.