Why do you think the author chose to create many younger characters who are girls and not boys?

Little girls are abundant in the novel. In addition to Annette, Cora, and Fern, readers get several glimpses of Margie as a girl. Why do you think the author chose to make these younger characters girls and not boys?

Because she is drawing the similarities between these characters and Margie. Most of the girls were motherless like Margie.

Girl characters tend to be more passionate (like Margie) than boys.