When we met Denver, she was a child trapped in a world that was stuck in the past. Her naivety, innocence, and selfishness made her seem much younger than she really was. None of this was her fault, as she was overly sheltered her entire life.
Through flashbacks, we are told the story of Denver's birth, infancy, and childhood. We see how others' choices, influenced by the iron-grip of slavery and the past, shaped Denver's life.
Once Denver begins to make her own choices, come to her own, and venture into the community for the first time alone, she grows in maturity exponentially. At this point in the story, my respect and admiration for Denver sprouted, as well.
It was Denver, a force propelling out of the past, who gathered the community that prevented a second slaughter happening at 124. Denver, who was born free, was the only character without the grip of the past holding her back.
This was her story because she could move forward.
I really enjoyed the way that you wrote this. I agree, this was Denver's story, we saw her grow and blossom into an independent young woman with gumption. While I may not have liked her in the beginning of the novel, by the end she was my favorite. Very well written!
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