Mary struggles throughout her school life with writing and eventually draws hieroglyphics instead. She grows increasingly isolated as she moves through primary and then secondary school.
Like Clare in 鈥楢ll that Glisters鈥, Mary suffers from isolation.
This isolation comes in different forms 鈥 academic and social 鈥 and Mary鈥檚 reaction to them both (to carry on and believe in herself) underlines her strength as a character.
Mary鈥檚 mother, who Mary considers too busy working and raising three girls to do anything, may also be socially isolated.