The Program

Content Warning: This section of the guide describes and discusses the source text’s treatment of death by suicide, depression, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and psychological abuse and manipulation.

Sloane Barstow is the novel’s protagonist. She is a 17-year-old girl who lives in an area of the world that has implemented The Program. She is a strong, resilient character, even though she has trouble trusting herself. Sloane depends on people around her for support, such as Brady, James, and Realm. However, when Sloane enters The Program, she fights against their malpractice to keep a sense of autonomy. Sloane is in love with James Murphy, and her main stress revolves around losing his love or having him forget about her. James’s return without his memories causes Sloane to fall into a depression, which eventually sends her to The Program.

Sloane’s main internal conflict revolves around her struggle to control her emotions. As the dystopian society takes away everything that Sloane loves, she struggles because of the constriction of not being able to express herself. Sloane cannot process her grief over Brady’s death because her parents are scared that it is a sign of suicidal ideation. Instead, Sloane suppresses her grief, which only makes her connection to James grow stronger.