The Discovery of Life Through Death In Barbara Kingsolver's novel , the protagonist, Codi Noline, is unable to become self aware until the death of her sister, Hallie. Throughout the novel Codi's dependency on her sister the apparent cause. When Hallie ventures to Nicaragua to show the farmers how to replenish the land Codi returns to the small town of Grace, Arizona to aid her ailing father, Doc Homero. Hallie's departure in combination with Doc Homero's bout with Alzheimer disease allows Codi an opportunity to confront her past and insecurit ....