Character Overview
Jackie Reese is the older sister of Charlie Reese, the novel's protagonist. While Charlie is sent to live with her aunt and uncle in Colby, Jackie, nearing adulthood, remains in Raleigh with a friend's family. Initially, Jackie embodies the life Charlie feels she's lost, a symbol of what she desperately wishes to reclaim. As the story unfolds, Jackie's character deepens, revealing a maturity and understanding that ultimately helps Charlie confront difficult truths and embrace her new reality.
Who Is Jackie?
At first glance, Jackie appears to be living a carefree life, seemingly untouched by the family's turmoil that has uprooted Charlie. Through Charlie's resentful eyes, Jackie is the fortunate one, spared from the upheaval and surrounded by friends and opportunities. However, Jackie is far more than the shallow image Charlie initially perceives. She is a young woman grappling with the same family dysfunction, but with a pragmatic approach focused on building a stable future for herself, independent of her unreliable parents.
Personality & Traits
Jackie's personality is a blend of youthful charm and hard-earned pragmatism. While she enjoys the social aspects of her life and presents a confident facade, she carries the weight of understanding her family's limitations. This duality shapes her interactions and decisions throughout the novel.
- Socially Adept and Charismatic: Jackie effortlessly connects with others, as seen during her visit to Colby where she quickly endears herself to Gus, Bertha, and the entire Odom family.
- Seemingly Self-Absorbed: Early phone calls are dominated by Jackie's updates about her own life, such as new clothes, driving lessons, and boys, leaving Charlie feeling neglected and fueling her resentment.
- Pragmatic and Realistic: Unlike Charlie, who clings to the hope of a family reunion, Jackie possesses a clear-eyed view of their situation, understanding that their parents, Mama (Carla) and Scrappy, are unlikely to change.
- Secretly Caring: Despite her outward focus on her own life, Jackie's love for Charlie is evident in small gestures, like when she helps Charlie see the good in her new home, demonstrating a deep, albeit tough, form of love. Charlie also remembers how Jackie would sing to her to drown out their parents' fighting.
Character Journey
Jackie's character arc is subtle yet significant. Initially, she is a symbol of Charlie's lost life, a source of envy and resentment. However, as Charlie begins to understand the complexities of her own situation, she also begins to see Jackie in a new light. Jackie's visit to Colby serves as a turning point, revealing her maturity and the difficult realities she faces. She transitions from being a source of jealousy to a sympathetic figure who provides Charlie with the painful but necessary truths that ultimately lead to Charlie's acceptance and healing, highlighting the theme of Healing and Overcoming Trauma.
Key Relationships
- Charlie Reese: Jackie is Charlie's primary link to her old life, but their relationship is strained by distance and Charlie's feelings of abandonment. Jackie acts as both a confidante and a reality check for her younger sister. Their late-night conversation in Chapter 23 is a pivotal moment where Jackie helps Charlie begin to let go of her wish for their broken family to be fixed.
- Mama (Carla) and Scrappy: Jackie has a more jaded and realistic relationship with her parents than Charlie does. She understands their flaws and has accepted that she must rely on herself. She tells Charlie she doesn't hate their mother but doesn't "like her very much" (Chapter 23), showing a level of emotional detachment necessary for her own well-being.
- Gus and Bertha: Jackie immediately forms a warm and appreciative bond with her aunt and uncle. She recognizes the loving and stable home they provide for Charlie and expresses gratitude for it, telling Charlie how lucky she is to be with them.
- The Odoms: Jackie's natural charisma shines in her interactions with the Odom family. She easily wins over Mrs. Odom and all five boys, including Charlie's best friend, Howard Odom, further showcasing her social grace.
Defining Moments
- Early Phone Calls: In Chapters 2 and 10, Jackie's phone calls are filled with news about her life in Raleigh—new sweaters, driving lessons, and boys. Her failure to ask about Charlie's life deepens Charlie's sense of being forgotten. These calls highlight the growing distance between the sisters and Charlie's feelings of isolation.
- The Visit to Colby: Jackie's arrival in Chapter 20 is a major event. She immediately embraces life in Colby, praising the mountains, the house, and the people, which contrasts sharply with Charlie's own negative attitude. This visit forces Charlie to confront her own biases and consider the possibility that Colby might not be so bad after all.
- The "Lucky" Comment: When Jackie tells Charlie, "Charlie is so lucky to be here with y’all" (Chapter 20), it forces Charlie to begin re-evaluating her own perspective on her situation. This simple statement plants a seed of doubt in Charlie's mind, prompting her to question her own negativity.
- The Late-Night Truth: In Chapter 23, Jackie has a heart-to-heart with Charlie, explaining that their parents will never change and that they are "on our own." This conversation is crucial to Charlie's acceptance of her new reality and is a key moment in her journey toward understanding The Meaning of Family.
Symbolism
Jackie initially symbolizes the idealized life that Charlie wishes for—a life of popularity, friends, and freedom in Raleigh. She represents the theme of Wishing and Hope, but from a more mature standpoint. While Charlie wishes for a magical fix, Jackie embodies a more pragmatic hope built on self-reliance and accepting reality. She demonstrates that true family isn't something you can wish for but something you find and build, even if it means distancing yourself from your biological relatives.
Essential Quotes
Everybody thinks my sister is an angel straight down from heaven, but I know better. — Charlie's narration, Chapter 2
This quote reveals Charlie's initial perception of Jackie as someone who is perceived as perfect but is, in reality, more complex. It highlights the contrast between appearances and reality, a theme that runs throughout the novel.
"Charlie is so lucky to be here with y’all." — Jackie to Gus and Bertha, Chapter 20
This seemingly simple statement is a turning point for Charlie. It forces her to consider that her new life in Colby might actually be a good thing, challenging her preconceived notions and opening her up to the possibility of happiness.
"Nothing’s gonna change, Charlie. I used to think it would but now I don’t. Scrappy is gonna keep being Scrappy and Mama is gonna keep being Mama and you and I are on our own. No magic wand is gonna fix things." — Jackie to Charlie, Chapter 23
This quote encapsulates Jackie's pragmatic view of their family situation. She understands that their parents are unlikely to change, and that she and Charlie must rely on themselves. This harsh truth is difficult for Charlie to accept, but it is ultimately necessary for her healing and growth.
"You got a good life here, Charlie. You got Gus and Bertha loving you and treating you like a princess. You got all those Odoms thanking the good Lord for you. Then there’s Howard, the nicest friend you could ever want. You got these beautiful mountains and a garden and a porch to sit on that’s like sitting on the side of heaven." — Jackie to Charlie, Chapter 23
In this quote, Jackie articulates the positive aspects of Charlie's new life in Colby. She points out the love and support that Charlie receives from Gus and Bertha, the Odoms, and Howard, as well as the beauty of her surroundings. This helps Charlie to see the good in her new home and to appreciate the people who care about her.