It is important to remember that this is Grace's story so a majority is told by Grace's point of view. The narrator adds a few brush strokes to T-Papa, Camille, her mother, and her siblings. It is wonderfully illustrated that Grace's images of people in her life is not always true. The secrets that motivates the actions of her parents are not known by Grace. This is where this novel sings.
Grace is a full bodied character.
Easily identifiable with the way she felt about herself, her family. A definite plus. Grace is a lesbian. Her sexuality isn't spotlighted to the point that it is her main purpose in life. It's a part of Grace, the same as her skin color, or the fact that her mother's name is Camille.