Character Clues

Character Analysis

Actions

Yes, there's one big action at the end of the novel, but all the little things that the characters do throughout the day leads to that culminating attack, and as they do, we get a pretty clear sense of who our three leading ladies are. Leticia's decision to not tell Trina about Dominique's intent reveals just how self-absorbed she is, while Dominique's rising frustration with powerlessness and invisibility lets us know that she's not as bad as her terrible behavior at the end might make her seem.

What characters do—and don't do—defines them and reveals who they really are and what they really value in this book. It would be too easy to classify the characters into stereotypes, so Williams-Garcia makes it far more complex by making Dominique have compassion for her history teacher and Trina seem like a deeper person than she lets on.

Physical Appearances

This is high school, Shmoopers, so students are judged for everything—and especially for physical appearances. In a micro-society like high school, looks help define students, and clothes can sometimes offer a window into what people value. So Trina's racy pink outfit makes it seem like she values femininity, her ability to use her femininity to her advantage, and her body. And Leticia, a self-professed "big girl," is all about the designer clothes which, of course, her daddy shells out the money for.

Dominique is the narrator who most seems to hide herself behind her appearance; both Leticia and Trina comment on how she could be more attractive if she changed her appearance, but Dominique seems to be comfortable with who she is. Dominique is much more concerned with being recognized for her basketball skills than working her feminine wiles.

Speech and Dialogue

There is a lot less dialogue than we might expect in a novel about high school. So when we see dialogue, we should pay attention and consider what it might reveal to us about the characters. For example:

I stamp my feed. "I don't want a pass. I want action. I was damaged during gym. My hand and my property. Someone has to pay. Someone has to be responsible."

He alternately nods yes and no and sings, "Oh, I agree, Miss Moore."

Is that a smirk? (19.11-13)

We already know that Leticia is being ridiculous—after all, she's asking for someone to be responsible for something that is her fault and totally not anybody else's problem (except maybe her manicurist's). So it's kind of nice to see that, even though Leticia is speaking, we can recognize that AP Shelton sees her ridiculousness and spoiled behavior for what it is. If we keep our eyes out during dialogue, we can learn a lot from what is both said and unsaid.

Thoughts and Opinions

Almost the entire book is musings taken from each narrator's head. Yes, there's plot and action, but these are secondary to the narrators' internal thoughts: Dominique's decision to fight, Trina's thinking about her art and her day, and Leticia's conundrum. Here's a glimpse inside Leticia's head:

I'm all jittery and can't settle myself. I hear Chem II James talking but it might as well be Bridgette running the vacuum cleaner in the other room. I know there's sound, but it's all in the background. (32.3)

Her conscience is almost getting the better of her, and she's got one last chance to actually say something. She's getting more and more worked up, but the only way that she manifests it outwardly is through her tapping pen. And the thing is, that this is pretty much what high school is like. People keep a lot of stuff bottled up inside because high school can be a brutal and cruel place that allows for no weakness. And Leticia thinks that telling would be a weakness.