The craft element I thought Bowe developed really well throughout was characterization. We learn so much about the lives of these characters, even their personalities and insecurities, through the choices the author makes. By the end of the story, we know the mother has been deeply rattled by loss, a part of her gone along with her lost child. In moments of grief she looks for signs of her daughter, but also works to advance their lives. We learn a lot about Emeline and how she acted around her family before she passed; Reliance on older siblings for comfort, the ragged teddy bear and blanket, all these details serve to build a character beyond just knowing she is dead and that she was a child. Eli is playful, enjoys doing things for others/with others, cares deeply how others may view him, and is protective of his remaining sister. Libby is very matter of fact, almost to a point where it feels she’s driven just by substances rather than anything else. We learn all this from just the use of characterizing dialogue, actions, and items the author chooses to use. I feel like this piece is a good example of picking and choosing detail and only leaving things that add to the story/develop the characters.