Answer: Liz Murray is the author, protagonist, and narrator of Breaking Night, the story of her life leading up to her acceptance to Harvard University. She grows up in the Bronx in the 1980's and 1990's. Liz grows up knowing how to take care of herself: she’s possessed of incredible willpower, and forces herself never to give up. However, Liz is also emotionally scarred by her relationship with her parents and her sister, Lisa Murray. At times, she hates her family for treating her so neglectfully. But she also feels extraordinarily guilty for abandoning her family and making her own way in life—especially after her mother dies of AIDS. In the end, Liz succeeds in reconciling the two “halves” of her early life: her struggle to succeed and her struggle to make peace with her family. She works hard, graduates high school, and wins acceptance to Harvard University. With these impressive achievements under her belt, she gains enough independence and, crucially, perspective to forgive her family members while still holding them accountable for their actions.
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