Narrator Catherine "Cathy" Dollanganger (12) is the second of four children, following older brother Chris (14) and preceding twins Cory and Carrie (5). Cathy and her siblings live lovely, blissful lives in Gladstone, Pennsylvania. Their father, Christopher works in public relations for a computer company. Their mother, Corrine, is a housewife and cares for Cathy, Chris and the twins. Each member of the family is beautiful and sports flaxen blond hair, blue eyes and fair skin. Chris's best friend nicknamed them "The Dresden Dolls" because of their resemblance to porcelain dolls. Sadly, Cathy's life in Gladstone ends upon her father's tragic death in a highway accident on his 36th birthday.