Character Analysis
Wahoo is a good kid from a loving and supportive family. He is in high school, but doesn't seem to have all of those high school diseases like laziness or a bad attitude. Chores (including caring for a mini-zoo), school work, and sports take up all of his time, and he doesn't really seem to have a social life aside from hanging out with his parents and the wild animals their family keeps in the backyard. He is pretty low-key—he kind of longs to be a normal kid, but also loves that he isn't. He accepts himself and his family life and always gives a helping hand without a word.
Mr. Mom, Jr.
When Mickey gets hurt by that frozen iguana and his mom flies off to China, Wahoo takes over all of the animal care duties and home management in addition to going to school and passing final exams without one word of complaint. We are pretty amazed by what he is able to pull off.
There are times when Wahoo even seems more mature than his own father, and on more than one occasion, Wahoo is embarrassed by Mickey's big mouth. For example, when they see Derek getting ready for the first shoot, Mickey can't keep his opinions to himself.
"What a poser," Mickey said.
"Chill out, pop."
"Don't we have some fire ants?"
"That's enough." (5.28-31)
In this book, Wahoo frequently takes the lead, even making the decision to bring Tuna along with them to the Everglades (9.40). He doesn't ask for permission—he announces his idea and everyone falls in line, just like might happen with an adult calling the shots. If Wahoo wasn't so mature, he might have been overshadowed by Mickey's awesomeness. But since Wahoo is more mature, we rely on him (just like every one in the book does) to make the right decisions. We can imagine that Susan Cray might be more like her son than her husband and, if she were around, Wahoo might not have the opportunity to call the shots.
He Got Mad Skillz
The skills Wahoo has learned from his dad about caring for wild animals in captivity have made him invaluable to the Crays. Not only is he capable of caring for a recently caught, injured bobcat (5.26), but he can also build cages, care for wounds, and attend to a ton of different needs (think dozens of different animals).
Being responsible for the lives of many animals has also turned Wahoo into a patient and observant person. He anticipates the needs of others, and is direct and honest about what he thinks. When Link gets shot, Wahoo knows exactly what to do. The narrator tells us that, "from practice Wahoo learned how to quickly staunch bleeding, clean a wound and apply antibiotics. […] He began by using a screwdriver from the boat's toolbox to cut away Link's bloody shirt. Then he applied some hydrogen peroxide, followed by a dab of alcohol, which caused Link to groan from the sting" (19.107, 108).
Even though Wahoo is just in high school, he is able to save the life of a grown man just like a certified nurse. He also doesn't make a big deal out of hard work or emergency situations, like when Beulah the Burmese python chomps his dad's foot, intending to have a late lunch (3.71). Wahoo is like the human version of the ultimate Swiss Army Knife.
Choice-Maker, Choice-Maker, Make Us a Choice
Wahoo has to make a lot of choices in this book, and not all of them are easy. He chooses to stand up to his father, appease Derek and Raven for a nice pay check, bring Tuna along, and distract Jared and his loaded gun so his dad can either escape or attack. As the decisions become harder and heavier, Wahoo shows us that he is still just a kid who can make some mistakes. Like when Mickey is confronted my Jared and then turns and looks behind him:
There was his son, jumping up and down at the edge of the trees. He looked like he was being attacked by bees […] He understood what his son was trying to do. It was brave, but way too dangerous. (25.61-66)
So despite things turning out well in the end, Wahoo could have gotten hurt, which, as far as his dad is concerned, means he made a poor choice. Wahoo isn't perfect, or nearly as skilled as his dad is, but he shows us that he has heart and won't give up, especially when loved ones are involved.
A Good Mix
Wahoo has the best qualities of both extremes in this story: Mickey and Derek. We know it's hard to identify Derek's good qualities, but if you think of him as balancing out Mickey's full-throttle passion for animals, then you might be able to see him as a steadfast reminder that people matter, too. Wahoo knows that while the animals are important, so is taking care of the human Crays.
Wahoo Timeline