Amy Birch

Amy Birch is the orphaned granddaughter of Ellis and Vivian Birch in the struggling town of Pokenberry Falls. She gives Jimmy and Donna Barclay an honest tour far different from the shining postcards her grandfather sends. Empty stores, broken promises, and few opportunities have left Amy eager to escape the town forever. She tests the visiting children by producing a bottle of alcohol and daring Jimmy to drink, then challenges them not to judge her. Amy's anger reflects a community where adults are discouraged, the church is nearly empty, and hope feels dishonest. Defiant and hurting, she does not need another polished sales pitch about her hometown. She needs people willing to see both its failures and the young person trapped among them.