White Smoke

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of addiction, substance use, racism, graphic violence, mental illness, death, and sexual violence.

Marigold is the novel’s protagonist. She is the Black teen daughter of Raquel and Chay, sister of Sammy, and stepsister of Piper. She moves with her newly blended family from their small beach town in California to the Maplewood neighborhood of the midwestern city of Cedarville. Marigold loves her brother and worries about his severe allergies and lack of friends (blaming herself and her struggle with anxiety and addiction for much of his trouble). She is close with her mother but feels strain in their relationship due to Marigold’s recent addiction to prescription drugs and marijuana and Raquel’s remarriage to Alec. Marigold senses blame and unpleasantness from Alec, and she sees Piper as a child who uses lies and tattling to keep Alec from growing close to Sammy or her.

Marigold starts her junior year of high school just after moving to Cedarville. A former track star, she is outspoken and sometimes snarky; she sees this as an asset and does not understand why her mother does not: “She’s the one who raised me to ask questions, be curious, and speak my mind.