Cecilia is "the first to go" of the enigmatic and beautiful Lisbon sisters living in suburban 1970s America. The character is portrayed as dreamy and mystical, and somewhat of a misfit; this is crucial to why so many people empathise and relate to Cecilia rather than the other sisters. Cecilias first attempt on her life at the start of the book leads her to have counselling;

"What are you doing here honey? You have no idea how bad life gets."

"Obviously doctor, youve never been a thirteen year old girl".

Her therapist then recommends more social interaction especially with boys of her age. Her parents decide to hold a party which ends in tragedy as Cecilia finally takes her life by jumping out of her window onto the fence below.

The party actually highlights the immense differences between Cecilia and her sisters; she doesnt interact with the other guests and sits on her own. She doesnt laugh at "Joe the Retard" and asks to be excused. Additionally as her sisters are getting ready, she is wearing her familiar dress and bracelets stuck ungainly round her bandages to disguise her injuries. Even her hair colour separates her from her sisters and she is the only girl to have her own room again separating her from her older sisters.

But the film contrasts with the book when one of her sisters condemns Cecilia as "weird" at the prom whereas there is no mention of this in the film. None of Cecilias friends are mentioned so it is presumed that she had few and she spends a lot of time talking with her mother about various topics which could prove or disprove the theory that she killed herself for freedom,

The most likely explanation for Cecilias death is given on the last few pages of the book; "We knew Cecilia had killed herself because she was a misfit, because she could hear the beyond calling to her, and her sisters, once abandoned, could feel her calling from that place, too."