Character Clues
Character Analysis
Actions
When you have a bunch of characters who just won't talk about their true feelings, how does anyone know what they're really thinking? Through their actions, of course. Take this moment with Jake:
"I don't know. I can't see her." I raced down the granite trail to a lower ledge where I could get a closer view of the lake. My heart was pounding in my ears by the time I got there. No sign of her. "Dani!" I shouted. My yells echoed straight back to my throbbing ears.
"Can you see her?" Blister called down. They were all peering over the edge now.
I yanked off my shoes and jumped into the freezing water. I dove under so many times the throbbing in my ears had moved to my head. "Dani!" I yelled again only to be answered by my own words. I looked up at the scared, white faces of my friends. "Can you see her at all from up there?" […]
I went under again. The water was icy and dark. I slammed my hand into a submerged tree trunk. I gasped as my head broke through the surface of the lagoon.
"It's a lot colder than I'd expected," a quiet voice said from a recessed shelf in the cliff wall. (19.39-41, 44-45)
So this is early in Jake and Dani's relationship. It's not clear that he's actually ever going to make a move on her or that he even thinks it's a possibility—but he's obviously so worried about her when she jumps off the Ledge that he risks his own neck by diving down to look for her in the water. And Dani just sort of sits there and watches him after he jumps down to find her. His actions and worried demeanor reveal a lot about what he's actually feeling for Dani, and her coyness tells us she's no dummy when it comes to this stuff either.
Over and over again, Jake springs into action to help Dani. He hands her his sweatshirt when she's cold, he steps between her and her knife-wielding ex-boyfriend, he dives into the pool to save her from a cramp. Heck, he even rushes to her house to warn her when he thinks there's an intruder lurking. The guy is a major white knight. And to think Amy thought romantic heroes didn't exist in real life…
Location
Where a person lives can tell you a lot about them, especially in this story. Jake grows up on a horse farm, so the dude has his own horses that he can ride anytime he wants. It's pretty much a dream life and Dani tells him so, too:
"It's a nice life," I said, "for a horse, I mean." I shrugged. "I guess for a seven-year-old boy too. I mean what kid doesn't want his own horse." (14.10)
So it's no surprise from here to learn that Jake's life has been a pretty big piece of cake until Amy's death. Dani, on the other hand, has spent most of her life hopping from sleazy apartment to sleazier apartment and occasionally even winding up in a foster home. That's why she's so darn thrilled to have her very own place to call home in Raynesville:
"Damn, I guess this is it." Mom shut off the engine. She stared through the filthy windshield. "It ain't much."
I looked over at her. "You're right. Let's go back to that sleazy motel on the highway. I'm feeling homesick for the fragrance of stale cigarette smoke, carpet mold, and whatever the heck that other smell was."
Mom opened the door. "Hey, they had some pretty fancy floral sheets in those rooms." She stepped out of the car and slammed the door.
I followed and looked at her over the yellow hood. "Hate to break it to you, but those weren't floral prints." (2.13-16)
No more gross motels for Dani—yay. Once she finally settles in Raynesville (in a house conveniently located within spying distance of Jake's), she can start rebuilding her life and finding the safety and security she's always dreamed of. Good luck, Dani.
Physical Appearances
Shmoop hates to break this to you, but looks matter. And in this book, how a person relates to their physical appearance speaks volumes. For instance, our two main characters are both unbelievably attractive, yet neither one of them really seems to realize it:
"It's just that the rest of us have a better chance with you out of the picture."
"That's the stupidest damn thing I've ever heard." (9.37-38)
Oh, Jake, do you really not know the magnetic power you have over the ladies? Clearly, both Dani and Jake have modesty and humility to go with good looks. They might be cute, but they're not super braggy and annoying about it.
Katrina, on the other hand, knows how to flaunt the goods to get what she wants. In fact, we sort of suspect that the reason she's gotten this far in life has a whole lot more to do with working her looks than her winning personality. Bummer for Katrina, though, all the cleavage in the world won't help her win Jake back once he realizes what an awful person she is:
"Jake, do you need a ride?"
I glimpsed over at her. She'd cut her hair, and she was wearing several layers of shiny lip gloss. Her cleavage was nicely presented in a tight yellow tank top.
"I'm walking today," I answered. (5.19-21)
On the flipside, being too gorgeous by society's standards is not an issue that Amy has. Amy starts out overweight (fun fact: size and beauty have nothing to do with each other), but eventually is able to slim down a bit. Of course, she pretty quickly realizes that there's more to life than being ridiculously good-looking:
Why did no one warn me that being thin sucked? If this is what real life is then give me back my blubber suit and shove a romance novel in my chubby fingers. I'm going back to friends I can count on like cupcakes, mashed potatoes and chocolate shakes. (22.4)
Poor, Amy—looks might matter, but managing to blend in definitely isn't a cure-all.