Characters I Hope This Finds You Well Natalie Sue

Miley: The Neglected Neighbor Who Catalyzes Change

Overview

Miley is Jolene Smith's twelve-year-old neighbor in a run-down Calgary apartment building. She appears in I Hope This Finds You Well as a persistent, lonely child who seeks connection despite repeated rejection. Miley's mother works double shifts and often ignores her, leaving Miley to fend for herself in the hallways and stoop. The text establishes Miley's neglect through her mother's cold dismissal, her worn Toms shoes, and her admission that she was "supposed to ask a friend to go over, but everyone was busy." Miley copes through crocheting, though she admits her creations are flawed despite watching YouTube tutorials.

Plot Role

Miley functions as a catalyst for Jolene's emotional awakening. Her presence forces Jolene to confront her own isolation and, eventually, her capacity for empathy. Throughout the novel, Miley's consistent outreach—asking to visit, giving gifts, seeking help—contrasts sharply with Jolene's instinct to withdraw. Miley also serves as a mirror for Jolene's younger self: lonely, misunderstood, and desperate for connection. Their parallel neglect—Miley by her mother, Jolene by her colleagues and family—creates a quiet thematic resonance that builds toward Jolene's final realization that she can care for someone beyond herself.

The chapters in which Miley appears often mark turning points. In Chapter 18, her birthday gift of a zebra softens Jolene enough that she momentarily resists her usual avoidance. In Chapter 38, their disastrous movie outing forces Jolene to see how her own shame harms others. And in Chapter 49, Jolene's apology to Miley signals her readiness to heal.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Miley's primary motivation is connection. She seeks out Jolene repeatedly—asking to come over, gifting the zebra, requesting movie accompaniment—despite being rebuffed. The text suggests she craves attention her mother cannot provide. Her persistence reveals resilience along with a painful naivety about adult relationships.

Her honesty is another defining trait. At the movie theater, she bluntly tells Cliff's date that she is twelve and was snuck in, causing Jolene's humiliation. This moment reflects Miley's inability to perform social deception—a quality that initially embarrasses Jolene but later becomes admirable within the novel's arc about empathy across differences.

Miley also demonstrates insecurity masked by bravado. She calls Jolene her "easiest mark" for conversation, downplays her crochet as lacking skill, and deflects compliments. Her self-deprecating humor, seen when she calls adults who befriend kids "freaks," suggests learned defense mechanisms developed from repeated rejection.

Chronological Arc

Miley appears across several key points in the narrative:

  • Chapter 3: First appearance. Miley asks to come over on Jolene's birthday; Jolene refuses.
  • Chapter 13: Miley is dismissed coldly by her mother in the hallway. Her mother tells her not to "bother the neighbors with your problems" and reveals she bought her a phone.
  • Chapter 18: Miley gives Jolene the poorly crocheted zebra as a belated birthday gift. Jolene learns Miley's mother is working a double shift. Jolene retreats instead of offering help.
  • Chapter 38: Miley convinces Jolene to take her to an R-rated movie. They encounter Cliff on a date. Miley reveals her age and that Jolene snuck her in, leading to Jolene snapping at her. They walk home in silence.
  • Chapter 43: Miley overhears Jolene whispering that she likes Cliff.
  • Chapter 46: Miley's birthday party is immediately abandoned by two friends who call the building "gross." Jolene witnesses her defeat from across the hall.
  • Chapter 49: Jolene gives Miley a belated birthday gift (a T-shirt from the movie they saw) and apologizes for avoiding her. Miley gives her an envelope from Cliff. Jolene mentions that Miley's mother says they will celebrate that night.
  • Chapter 51: One year later, Jolene reconnects with Miley at Rhonda's retirement party.

Relationships

Miley and Jolene: The central relationship. Miley initiates contact; Jolene resists. The dynamic shifts from neighborly annoyance to reluctant responsibility to genuine care. Jolene's treatment of Miley mirrors her own treatment by others—she dismisses Miley as her mother dismisses her, she avoids Miley as her coworkers avoid her. The text implies that Miley functions as a conscience figure, forcing Jolene to see her own patterns. By the novel's end, Jolene tells Miley she is proud of her for "trying to connect with the world," a statement that applies equally to Jolene's own journey toward recovery from guilt.

Miley and Her Mother: Their relationship is defined by absence. Miley's mother works double shifts, does not look up from her phone while walking, and in Chapter 13 tells Miley not to bother the neighbors. Miley's insecurity and her need for adult attention appear rooted in this neglect. However, in Chapter 49, Jolene's question about Miley's birthday prompts an acknowledgment from the mother, suggesting a possible shift.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Miley makes several active decisions that shape events:

  1. Giving the zebra (Chapter 18): Despite Jolene's repeated dismissals, Miley persists. This gift becomes Jolene's most treasured possession at work, and she takes it when fired. The consequence is that Jolene cannot fully disregard Miley after this gesture of vulnerability.

  2. Asking Jolene to the movie (Chapter 38): This decision leads to the awkward encounter with Cliff, Jolene's outburst, and Miley's hurt withdrawal. The outing is the crisis that precedes their eventual reconciliation.

  3. Delivering Cliff's envelope (Chapter 49): Miley could have kept the envelope or thrown it away. Instead, she gives it to Jolene, enabling the final connection between Jolene and Cliff.

Theme and Symbol Connections

Neglect and Care: Miley embodies the novel's exploration of what happens when children are left without emotional support. Her mother's neglect parallels Jolene's neglect by her family and workplace. Miley's vulnerability challenges Jolene to move beyond self-absorption toward meaningful action.

The Zebra: The poorly crocheted zebra functions as a symbol of imperfect care. Miley creates it specifically for Jolene after asking her favorite animal. Its "unfortunate" appearance mirrors the awkward, messy nature of reaching out. Jolene keeps it through her firing and moves with it to her parents' house, signaling that she values the intention behind the gift, not its perfection.

Honesty vs. Deception: Miley's blunt truth-telling at the movie theater contrasts sharply with Jolene's white-font emails and secret surveillance. Miley cannot perform the social lies that adults use to protect themselves. Her honesty, though painful, is presented as more authentic than Jolene's deception.

For further exploration of how Miley's neglect connects to wider family dynamics, see the analysis on cultural and family expectations.

Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Miley crochet a zebra for Jolene?

In Chapter 18, Jolene tells Miley that zebra is her favorite animal (after Miley asked earlier). Miley remembers this and creates the crocheted zebra as a birthday gift. Jolene reflects: "That's why she wanted to know my favorite animal." The gift is Miley's attempt to show care using the limited resources and skills available to her.

2. What does Miley reveal about herself when she calls adults who befriend kids "freaks"?

In Chapter 49, Miley says: "Yeah, the adults that are friends with kids are freaks." Jolene interprets this as a defense mechanism. Miley uses self-deprecation to protect herself from the possibility that Jolene is just being polite. Jolene responds by telling Miley she is "cool," countering the insecurity behind the remark.

3. How does Miley's birthday party go wrong?

In Chapter 46, Miley's two invited friends arrive at the building but immediately leave, calling the place "gross." Miley's shoulders drop in defeat. Jolene observes from her apartment window and initially feels grim satisfaction before breaking down in tears.

4. How does Miley help Jolene reconnect with Cliff after the firing?

In Chapter 49, Miley gives Jolene a plain brown envelope that Cliff left with her weeks earlier. Miley says: "Your boyfriend gave me this a few weeks ago. He said he forgot to give it to you." The envelope contains Cliff's desk items and serves as the final tangible connection between him and Jolene.

5. What does Jolene tell Miley when she apologizes for avoiding her?

In Chapter 49, Jolene tells Miley: "I know things can be hard at your age. But I'm proud of you for coming out here every day and trying to connect with the world. You honestly are so cool to me." This apology marks the moment Jolene begins to extend toward others the care she has been withholding.