Perrine Paindavoine is the daughter of an Anglo-Indian mother, Marie, and a French father, Edmond, who dies in Bosnia at the very beginning of the story. She's a very kind young girl that goes through many hardships during her journey, though through it all she stays true to herself, treats others with kindness and strives to be someone the people around her can love. She goes through multiple life-changing events throughout her journey to France, though through determination and hard work she finally achieves her goals and becomes in a position to be truly happy.