The Pinballs

Carlie, the oldest of the three protagonists, is the primary character. When she moves into the Masons’ house, she is argumentative and suspicious.

Carlie uses this abrasiveness as armor to protect herself. If she puts on a harsh exterior, then no one can get to her interior, which has been traumatized by the desertion of her first two fathers, the abuse of the third, and the neglect of her mother. Carlie is so used to insults that they “didn’t hurt her. People could insult her all day long, and she would insult them right back” (28). Her verbal aggression is her best defense against being hurt. However, “let somebody say something polite or nice to her—it made her feel terrible” (28). If someone is kind or genuine to her, she does not know what to do. She is unable to exercise the protective armor against them, and she is unable to trust their kindness.

As the novel progresses, Carlie gradually becomes less abrasive, more apt to accept kindness, and more willing to care for others. Learning how Harvey broke his legs is a turning point in her character arc: She is horrified that a “creep”—her word for Harvey’s father—would run over his own son’s legs, and she grows protective of Harvey when his father comes to visit.