Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

Tendai Matsika

Tendai's the main character, and we're by his side throughout the book. Plus, he grows up big time, coming into his own and recognizing his own value. In other words, Tendai checks all the protagonist boxes. He might be a thirteen-year-old Scout who's never left his parents' house before the novel starts, but by the time it ends, he's evaded kidnappers—that's right, plural—and been the host to the most powerful of all the spirits, mhondoro. There's no doubt he's our guy.