Character Analysis
He might not really speak, and his two most notable qualities (at least initially) might be his pantomiming and juggling skills, but this seventeen-year-old undocumented worker from Mexico quickly becomes Pearl's major crush in the novel. It's not just the fire that is heating up in the woods, either. She first notices Amiel when he's trying to get some work on the side of the road, and immediately she wants to know more about him.
Once Bitten, Twice Shy
One thing Pearl wants to know pretty badly is how Amiel hurt his voice. Even though he claims it was an "accident," Pearl suspects there's more to the story—and boy, is she right. When he finally explains what happened to his throat, we're told:
Amiel found a piece of string on the ground and tied it tightly around the stick. "Así," he said. Then Amiel let the stick fall, jerked on the string, and pulled the stick around in the dirt. (39.21)
That stick, to be clear, represents Amiel being pulled around by his grandfather. As you might've noticed, he doesn't share this tragic tale from his past until Chapter 39, long after Pearl's first expressed interest in knowing where the heck his voice has gone. In other words, it's a story Amiel really doesn't enjoy sharing, at least not with Pearl. And this lets us know that he keeps his cards pretty close to the chest—if not always, then definitely when it comes to our teenage leading lady.
Amiel's journey from being silent to opening up to Pearl and using his voice allows us to see the progression in their relationship. As he becomes more comfortable with her, Amiel finds his voice again. For more on this, though, head over to "Symbols" to, er, hear what we have to say.
Cool As a Cucumber
Regardless of the situation, Amiel always manages to stay cool and collected. Whether he cuts his hand juggling machetes (yes, you read that right) or hides out in the woods during a forest fire, Amiel is at ease. Check out how Pearl describes him during the fire:
Amiel sat very still and calm, watching the sky to the east. I lay down with my fists covering my eyes, my face toward the wall, knees locked in despair. In a sun print, I would have been the skeleton key. (45.16)
While she's freaking out, Amiel remains calm. We get the sense that he's been through a lot in his life and can't be rattled that easily. It's going to take more than a few flames to scare him.
Forget Me Not
In the end, Amiel heads back to his hometown after the fire. At least, that's what he tells Pearl:
Vuelvo a México. Recuérdeme. Simple enough for even me: I'm going back to Mexico. Remember me. (57.17)
Amiel's spent too much time worrying about immigration finding him out and doesn't want to bother with it anymore. Even though he's a hard worker, he can't get a stable job in Fallbrook. You might say the fire is the final straw for Amiel, that it, um, burns him out.
Notice how he tells Pearl to remember him, as though he's worried about being forgotten. That's not going to happen anytime soon. She takes his words to heart and plans to follow him south of the border. So here's the big, million-dollar question: Do you think Amiel will want to see her again? We spend a lot of time learning how Pearl feels about Amiel, but don't get his perspective very much. We can't help but wonder whether he feels the same way about her—we'll leave that one for you to decide.
Amiel's Timeline