The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs

Eben is the protagonist and main narrator of the story, which alternates between his first-person point of view and those of the people whose “wonders” he collects. He is a young boy growing up in the small rural community of Sassafras Springs, Missouri, in the 1920s. He is also a dynamic character with a transformative arc, as he embarks on a journey of discovery that changes his perception of his hometown and his outlook on the world.

Eben lost his mother at a young age but grew up with his father and aunt in a loving household. He is a dutiful son who often helps his father manage their farm. However, he feels lost and restricted by a monotonous daily life in the tiny community: “We might as well have been invisible, yet there I was, sitting on the front porch with Pa and Aunt Pretty” (1). Eben is also limited by class; like most families in town, Eben’s family struggles economically. 

Despite his mundane daily life, Eben is imaginative, longing to explore the world beyond the boundaries of his hometown. He finds comfort in books that nurture his curiosity and desire for extraordinary things.