Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses depictions of sexism, racism, grooming, and emotional trauma present in the source text.

Maya Mason is one of the novel’s two narrators, making her one of its protagonists. Maya’s voice speaks more chapters than the other narrator, Naomi, as Maya’s narrative covers two separate periods, arguably making her the novel’s main character. Maya’s narrative is split into two timeframes: One centers on her junior year at Princeton (2011-2012), and the other details Maya’s reaction to Naomi’s death in 2023 and her return to Princeton in the aftermath.

Maya’s character changes significantly over the course of the novel, and the narrative is greatly shaped by her emotional trajectory. As a student at Princeton, Maya is timid and insecure. She got into the school based on merit, but she isn’t sure what she should study or how she should be. Maya’s major is economics. She says, “I liked the sound of it. It sounded important, sophisticated. Things I was not” (57). Coming from a working-class family, Maya isn’t sure how to fit into Princeton. This element of her character provides an important catalyst for the novel, as Sterling and Greystone give her confidence and a sense of belonging.