DOVEY COE

By: Jordan Collins

Dovey Coe says what's on her mind,
so it's no secret that she can't stand
Parnell Caraway. Parnell may be the
son of the richest man in town, but
he's mean and snobby, and Dovey
can't stand the fact that he's courting
her sister, Caroline, or the way he
treats her brother, Amos, as if he
were stupid just because he can't
hear.
So when Parnell turns up dead, and
Dovey's in the room where his body
is discovered, she soon finds herself
on trial for murder. Can the
outspoken Dovey sit still and trust a
city slicker lawyer who's still wet
behind the ears to get her out of the
biggest mess of her life?
The novel Dovey Coe takes place in Indian Creek, North Carolina during the Great
Depression. Dovey, Caroline, their slow/deaf brother Amos and their parents live in the North
Carolina mountains where the elds are green and perfect for farming. Luckily for them, their
family was not struggling as bad as many others were at the time. They also in the same town
where the Caroways live (the richest and especially the snobbiest family in town) and own the
towns dry goods store.
Dovey Coe, the youngest in the family of Coes, is a 12 year old girl that is not afraid to
speek her mind. Her brother Amos is deaf and partially slow yet has a very kind heart and a
very strong relationship with Dovey and Caroline. Dovey is usually a very happy and cheerful
girl who is always seen smiling but becomes down when she is told that her older sister
Caroline is moving off to college. Everyone though that Caroline was too pretty to go off to
college. They though she deserved to stay at home while a devoted man went to work.
Caroline insisted on going because that was what she knew she wanted to do with her life.
Parnell Caroway is described as the sixteen year old son of Mr. Caroway, as having a
huge crush on Caroline, Doveys older sister. Although Parnell Caraway was very handsome,
Caroline was not as attracted to him as he was to her. Everyone in the town considered her
extremely lucky to have attracted such a high class guy but Caroline saw past all of the wealth
and popularity. Dovey also saw the kind of guy Parnell was and agreed even more than
Caroline about how Parnell was attractive on the outside but mean and cruel on the inside. At
the going-away party for Caroline, Parnell decided to propose to Caroline but she quickly
turned him down. After Caroline embarrassed him in front of everyone in the town by declining
his proposal of marriage, Parnell decides to get even with the Coe family. He steals the Coes
beloved dog in an attempt to lure Dovey into his carefully planned trap he had set for revenge.
Dovey is lured into Parnell Caroways spiteful trap he had set to get revenge on Caroline
for declining his marriage proposal at Carolines going-away party. Dovey is drawn into the
back of Parnells fathers shop where Dovey sees that Parnell had taken her dog. Dovey
reacted with anger by drawing her pocketknife that was given to her and makes a small cut on
Parnells arm. Parnell eventually knocks Dovey out cold. When Dovey wakes up, she sees
Parnell lying on the oor dead. Dovey had no idea how he died but when everyone else found
out about the incident, Dovey was charged with murder, only, she was innocent. Amos secretly
followed Dovey to Parnells fathers shop and sees Parnell knock Dovey out. This is when
Amos grabbed a 20 pound pain can and launches it at Parnells head. His head swells up and
eventually he dies from brain damage.

After the incident between Dovey and Parnell, the Caraways are forced to bring Dovey to
court. They are given a lawyer, Mr. Thomas G. Harding. He was given to them for free. Just
before the session, Dovey sees Amos with a note in his hand. Sheriff Douglas said that the fact
that Dovey was too weak to lift the paint can over her head was the evidence that Mr. Harding
used to nd her not guilty. Secretly, it was Amos who threw the paint can and killed Parnell.
After all, Amos is really strong.The Coe family eventually regains their peace of mind are are
doing great. Caroline comes back with a book she found in the library. One of them she gave to
Amos and will teach him sign language. Dovey and Mr. Harding walked from town to here
house and dovey suggested the idea of him marrying Caroline. But he was already in a
relationship so they laughed and continue walking.