The Stillwater Girls

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of physical abuse, mental illness, child death, and child abuse.

Wren Sharp (the narrator of Chapter 1 and all odd-numbered chapters in the text) explains that her mother and youngest sister, Evie, have been gone from their remote cabin for 63 days. Maggie Sharp, whom Wren knows only as “Mama,” left to find medical care for Evie in town, leaving instructions for 19-year-old Wren and her 18-year-old sister Sage to never open the door for anyone. Wren knows that her mother and sister should be back by now, and feels increasingly worried—it’s November and she and Sage are having trouble keeping warm at night. Their food supplies are almost exhausted, and their chickens are dying one by one of an unknown illness. Sage has begun comforting herself by holding and rocking the doll that Wren sewed for Evie.

Nicolette Gideon (the narrator of Chapter 2 and all even-numbered chapters) shares her concerns about the state of her marriage. Standing in the fully appointed chef’s kitchen in her upscale home in Upstate New York, she tries to get her husband, Brant, excited about the progress they are making toward becoming licensed foster care parents.