“My brothers went to the boys’ school in our village. Though there was a school for girls, I did not go there. I had begged to go, promising I would get up early and stay up late to do my work, but Maa said school was a waste for girls.”

These lines in Chapter 1 succinctly establish that Koly faces significant gender inequality in her society. Additionally, they reveal her desire for a formal education, which develops her character and one aspect of the motivation that drives her character arc. Not being allowed to attend school encapsulates the initial state of her character arc: She lacks autonomy and access to knowledge that would empower her, so she’s effectively helpless.

“A part of me hoped they would be successful and that someone wanted me. A part of me hoped that no one in the world would want me enough to take me away from my home and my maa and baap and brothers.”

Koly’s internal conflicts are central to her story. Throughout the novel, society and cultural traditions push her in one direction, while a desire to pursue happiness and independence pulls her in another direction. When her family begins looking for a husband for her, she’s conflicted: Part of her hopes they’ll be successful; this stems from having been socialized to accept the tradition of arranged marriage and to prioritize her duty to her family. Part of her hopes that no one will want her; this stems from not feeling ready for marriage at age 13 and knowing that leaving her family might mean leaving love and protection behind forever.