Francis Gertrude O'Brian, (TRUDY) a rawboned 18 year old freckle faced red head is physically and mentally abused by her two sisters, then sexually abused by her neighbor boys. She becomes a little mixed up and confused in her thinking. Perhaps it's because she's so young, that she doesn't think things through before she acts. She commits many acts of robbery and murder, however as she grows older and matures, her thinking becomes clearer and she seemingly wants to do good.(This book was unlike anything I've read, but I found myself captivated! So much happened that it never got bogged down. :) I really enjoyed it.) Jennifer Clark Sell