Jean is Adam Appich’s older sister and the sibling he is closest with. She looks out for him and protects him from Emmett, calling him “Dammie” and interpreting his moods for those who don’t understand him, including their parents. The tree her parents planted for her is the ash. Jean dies at some point during Adam’s adulthood.
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The timeline below shows where the character Jean Appich appears in The Overstory. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1: Roots—Adam Appich
...trees correspond to each of Adam’s parents’ four children: the eldest, Leigh, has an elm, Jean has an ash, Emmett has an ironwood, and Adam has a maple. Adam is reluctant...
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...Adam decides to hold a vote. It comes down to Emmett’s ironwood versus Adam’s maple. Jean supports Adam, as she always does, but Emmett still wins. By age 10, Adam is...
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...for hours, watching them and noting their complex behavior. He borrows some nail polish from Jean, paints certain ants different colors, and starts to watch and take notes. Despite Emmett’s cruel...
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